Which term covers the overall category of procedures that include DRA, DRO, and DRI?

• A. Differential Reinforcement Procedures
• B. Extinction
• C. Attention Extinction
• D. Extinction Burst

Answer: (A)

Differential reinforcement procedures encompass a family of strategies that shape behavior by reinforcing a specific alternative or other form of behavior while not reinforcing the undesired one. In DRA, you reinforce an alternative behavior that serves the same goal as the problem behavior (like raising a hand instead of calling out). In DRO, you reinforce the absence of the problem behavior during set intervals, regardless of what the person does. In DRI, you reinforce a behavior that is physically incompatible with the problem behavior, so both can’t occur at the same time. Because all of these rely on reinforcing certain responses and withholding reinforcement for others to change behavior, they fall under the umbrella of differential reinforcement procedures. Extinction is a separate concept focused on stopping reinforcement for the target behavior, and while it may be used alongside differential reinforcement, it isn’t the overarching category here.