Differential reinforcement is best described as what?

• A. The provision of reinforcement for only for a specific response (or set of responses) and withholding or providing diminished reinforcement for undesired response(s)
• B. An increase in behavior over time as the result of a contingent stimulus
• C. A chain of behaviors where each step's completion is the SD for the next step in the behavior chain
• D. The discontinuing of reinforcement of a previously reinforced behavior

Answer: (A)

Differential reinforcement is about delivering reinforcement only for the target behavior (or a specific set of responses) while withholding or reducing reinforcement for undesired behaviors. This single idea captures the essence of differential reinforcement and underlies its different forms (such as reinforcing an alternative or incompatible behavior, or reinforcing the absence of the problem behavior). For example, you might praise a student for raising a quiet hand and not reward shouting out, thereby strengthening the desired behavior and weakening the undesired one.

The other descriptions describe different processes. An increase in behavior due to a contingent stimulus refers to general reinforcement of a response, not the selective reinforcement of one behavior over others. A chain of behaviors where each step serves as the signal for the next describes a behavior chain, not differential reinforcement. The discontinuing of reinforcement of a previously reinforced behavior describes extinction, not differential reinforcement.