How does Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO) function?

Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO) is a behavioral strategy that specifically aims to reduce a target behavior by reinforcing the absence of that behavior over a specified period. In this approach, if the individual refrains from engaging in the undesirable behavior for a predetermined duration, they are then rewarded or reinforced. This method effectively shifts the focus from the behavior itself to the time intervals during which the behavior is not occurring.

Reinforcing the absence of behavior helps create an environment where the individual learns to avoid the target behavior altogether by associating the absence of that behavior with positive outcomes. Thus, reinforcing the time spent without the behavior directly aligns with the functioning of DRO.

The other options do not accurately represent the mechanism of DRO. For instance, reinforcing alternative behaviors focuses on promoting different behaviors, incompatible behaviors aim to strengthen behaviors that cannot coexist with the undesired behavior, and using continuous reinforcement is a different strategy that promotes desired behaviors rather than specifically targeting the absence of a particular behavior.