Differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior (DRI)
Reinforcing a behavior that cannot physically occur at the same time as the problem behavior, while withholding reinforcement for the problem behavior.
DRI is a form of differential reinforcement in which the reinforced behavior and the problem behavior are physically incompatible: doing one makes the other impossible at that moment. Holding a toy with both hands is incompatible with hand mouthing; walking with feet on the ground is incompatible with jumping on furniture; keeping hands on a cart handle is incompatible with grabbing items from shelves. As the incompatible behavior is reinforced and increases, there is less opportunity for the problem behavior.
DRI is a special case of DRA. All DRI procedures reinforce an alternative behavior, but in DRA the alternative only has to be different from the problem behavior, not impossible to do at the same time. A request such as "break, please" can be said while kicking, so reinforcing it is DRA, not DRI.
The supervisor chooses the incompatible behavior and, ideally, a reinforcer related to the function of the problem behavior. A limitation is that an incompatible behavior that does not meet the same need may not fully replace the problem behavior, so problem behavior is usually also placed on extinction.
The RBT reinforces the incompatible behavior as the plan specifies, withholds reinforcement for problem behavior, and records both. In a scenario question, ask whether the two behaviors could happen together; if not, it is DRI.
Example and non-example
| Example | A client often picks at their skin while watching videos. The plan has the RBT praise and give points while the client uses both hands to squeeze a stress ball, which makes picking impossible at the same time. |
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| Non-example | An RBT reinforces a client for saying "I need help" instead of crying. The client could say it and cry at the same time, so this is DRA rather than DRI. |
Don't confuse it with
| Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) | DRA reinforces any appropriate alternative behavior, while DRI requires that the reinforced behavior be physically incompatible with the problem behavior. |
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| Differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) | DRO reinforces the absence of problem behavior without naming a specific behavior, while DRI reinforces a specific incompatible behavior. |
Test yourself
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Question 1A client flaps their hands when excited. The plan delivers praise and a token while the client holds a toy with both hands, and hand flapping produces no tokens. Which procedure is this?
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A: DRI. Holding a toy with both hands cannot happen at the same time as hand flapping, so reinforcing it is differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior.
- B: DRO reinforces the absence of the behavior over an interval, not a specific behavior.
- C: DRL reinforces the target behavior at a low rate; here hand flapping is never reinforced.
- D: NCR delivers reinforcers on a time schedule, not contingent on a behavior.
Task D.3 · 40-hour curriculum section E
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Question 2What makes DRI different from other forms of DRA?
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C: The alternative is physically incompatible. DRI is a type of DRA in which the reinforced alternative is physically incompatible with the problem behavior, such as sitting in a seat versus walking around the room.
- A: Reinforcing the absence of problem behavior describes DRO.
- B: Reinforcing a lower rate describes DRL.
- D: DRI, like other differential reinforcement, uses reinforcement and not punishment.
Task D.3 · 40-hour curriculum section E
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Question 3Which alternative behavior would make a DRI procedure for thumb sucking?
Show answer
D: Using both hands to build with blocks. Building with both hands cannot happen while the thumb is in the mouth, so it is incompatible with thumb sucking.
- A: A child can listen to a story while sucking a thumb.
- B: A child can suck a thumb while sitting in a chair.
- C: A child can look at a book while sucking a thumb.
Task D.3 · 40-hour curriculum section E
Answer every question to see your score.
On the RBT exam
This term belongs to task D.3 Differential reinforcement in content area D, Behavior Reduction, which is 14 of the 75 scored questions.