What are the two processes involved in differential reinforcement procedures?

What are the two processes involved in differential reinforcement procedures?

• A. Reinforcement and Extinction
• B. Punishment and Reinforcement
• C. Extinction and Punishment
• D. Stimulus control and Prompting

Answer: (A)

In differential reinforcement procedures, two processes work together: reinforcement of a desired response and extinction of the undesired one. Reinforcement means delivering or withholding a consequence to increase the likelihood of the desired behavior—so you reward the target behavior that you want to see more often. Extinction means withholding reinforcement for the undesired behavior, which reduces its occurrence over time because that behavior no longer produces the expected outcome. This combination is the key: you shape behavior by reinforcing an acceptable alternative (or by reinforcing any behavior other than the problem behavior in some setups) while not reinforcing the problem behavior. For example, you might reinforce raising a hand to get attention and withhold attention (reinforcement) when the child shouts. Over time, the child learns to use the desired behavior rather than the undesired one.

In differential reinforcement procedures, two processes work together: reinforcement of a desired response and extinction of the undesired one. Reinforcement means delivering or withholding a consequence to increase the likelihood of the desired behavior—so you reward the target behavior that you want to see more often. Extinction means withholding reinforcement for the undesired behavior, which reduces its occurrence over time because that behavior no longer produces the expected outcome.

This combination is the key: you shape behavior by reinforcing an acceptable alternative (or by reinforcing any behavior other than the problem behavior in some setups) while not reinforcing the problem behavior. For example, you might reinforce raising a hand to get attention and withhold attention (reinforcement) when the child shouts. Over time, the child learns to use the desired behavior rather than the undesired one.