What does differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviors (DRI) focus on?

Differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviors (DRI) focuses on encouraging behaviors that cannot occur simultaneously with the target behavior. This method involves reinforcing a desirable behavior that is physically incompatible with the inappropriate or undesired behavior. For example, if a child tends to shout in class, reinforcing the behavior of raising their hand to speak is effective because the two behaviors cannot happen at the same time—if the child is raising their hand, they cannot be shouting.

This approach not only replaces the undesirable behavior with an alternative but also promotes positive behavior that enhances social interactions and compliance within various environments. By reinforcing incompatible behaviors, the likelihood of the undesired behavior occurring decreases, providing a structured way to guide individuals towards more appropriate actions.