What does Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA) aim to accomplish?

Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA) specifically aims to increase the frequency of appropriate behaviors while simultaneously decreasing instances of undesirable ones. This approach involves providing reinforcement for a desired behavior that serves as a viable alternative to the problematic behavior, thereby fostering the replacement of less favorable actions with more socially acceptable ones.

For instance, if a child is exhibiting disruptive behavior in the classroom, DRA would involve reinforcing the child when they engage in an appropriate behavior, such as raising their hand to ask a question. Through this reinforcement strategy, the goal is to build up the new, more appropriate behavior and indirectly reduce occurrences of the disruptive behavior without needing to implement harsh consequences for the unwanted actions.

The focus of DRA is not solely on eliminating all occurrences of a behavior or substituting it with an incompatible one, as those strategies may not address the underlying reasons for the behavior or could be less flexible in response to different situations. Instead, DRA seeks a more positive approach by encouraging the development of alternative behaviors, which are more conducive to social interaction and learning.