Which differential reinforcement procedure reinforces absence of the target behavior for a period or time and may be used to reduce occurrence?

• A. Differential Reinforcement Procedures
• B. Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behaviors (DRA)
• C. Differential Reinforcement of Other Behaviors (DRO)
• D. Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behaviors (DRI)

Answer: (C)

This item targets absence-based reinforcement, specifically Differential Reinforcement of Other Behaviors (DRO). In DRO, reinforcement is provided only if the target problem behavior does not occur during a defined interval. The idea is to reward the absence of the undesired behavior for that time window, so over repeated intervals the likelihood of the target behavior occurring decreases as longer periods pass without it.

If the target behavior happens within an interval, the interval ends (often resets or Shortens) and no reinforcement is given for that interval, encouraging the behavior to be suppressed in future trials. Over time, this can reduce how often the target behavior occurs because earning reinforcement becomes contingent on staying away from it for longer spans.

This differs from strategies that focus on a replacement or incompatible behavior. Reinforcing an alternative behavior (DRA) builds a specific, preferable replacement. Reinforcing a behavior that is incompatible with the target (DRI) makes it impossible for the two to occur together. In DRO, the reinforcement is about the absence of the target rather than promoting a particular alternative or incompatible action.