Differential reinforcement of other behavior increases untargeted behavior

Abstract

Differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) is a commonly used technique for behavior reduction, yet there has been little to no emphasis on the possible strengthening effects on other behavior. We included 2 responses (target and other) across 3 treatment schedules (DRO, extinction, and fixed time [FT]) in a human-operant procedure to determine the extent to which reinforcer presentation at the completion of the DRO interval could strengthen other responding. A computer program arranged for unsignaled changes in contingencies to a target response and never provided reinforcers for the other response. All 13 college-student participants exhibited more other responses than target responses during at least 1 exposure to DRO. Although there was a slight increase in other behavior during extinction, overall rates of other responding were never higher than that of the target response. Furthermore, 7 of 13 participants never emitted the other response during the FT condition. The findings provide some support for the response-strengthening effects of DRO.

Keywords: differential reinforcement of other behavior; extinction; fixed time; noncontingent reinforcement; translational research.