Which reinforcement strategy is designed to reduce problem behavior by reinforcing an appropriate alternative behavior?

• A. DRO
• B. DRI
• C. DRA
• D. NCR

Answer: (C)

Reinforcing an appropriate alternative behavior while withholding reinforcement for the problem behavior is the strategy of differential reinforcement of an alternative behavior. The idea is to strengthen a replacement behavior that serves the same function as the unwanted one, making it more likely the person will emit the desirable alternative instead. The reinforcer is contingent on the alternative behavior, and the problem behavior is typically placed on extinction so it no longer yields reinforcement. This direct pairing of reinforcement with a positive replacement helps reduce the problem behavior by teaching and reinforcing a socially or functionally appropriate option. For context, other strategies include reinforcing any behavior other than the problem one (DRO), reinforcing a behavior that cannot co-occur with the problem behavior (DRI), and providing reinforcement on a fixed schedule regardless of behavior (NCR), but the key distinction here is targeting an explicit, appropriate alternative to replace the problem behavior.