DRA (Differential Reinforcementย of Alternativeย Behavior)ย is aย behaviorย modification strategy in which aย behaviorย that serves the same function as a maladaptive or problematicย behaviorย is reinforced, while the maladaptiveย behaviorย is not reinforced. This approach focuses on teaching and reinforcing a more appropriate, alternativeย behaviorย that fulfills the same need or purpose as the maladaptiveย behavior.
Example
A child frequently screams to get attention from their teacher. Instead of reinforcing the screaming, the teacher implementsย DRAย by teaching the child to raise their hand as an alternative way to get attention. The teacher provides attention (reinforcement) whenever the child raises their hand but withholds attention when the child screams. Over time, the child learns that raising their hand is a more effectiveEffectiveย refers to one of the seven dimensions ofย Applied... More way to get attention, and the screamingย behaviorย decreases.