What type of behavior does DRI target?

The correct answer is that DRI targets incompatible behaviors. DRI, or Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible behavior, is a strategy used in behavior modification that focuses on reinforcing a behavior that cannot occur at the same time as the undesired behavior. By promoting an incompatible behavior, the aim is to reduce or eliminate the maladaptive behavior because the two behaviors cannot coexist simultaneously.

For example, if a child tends to hit another child (the maladaptive behavior), a behavior such as holding hands could be reinforced because it is physically incompatible with hitting. This process effectively teaches the individual to engage in a more appropriate behavior instead of the one being targeted for reduction.

In contrast, alternative behaviors are not necessarily incompatible; they might occur alongside the undesired behavior without preventing it. Multiple behaviors might refer to a range of different actions, which could complicate the focus of intervention strategies. Maladaptive behaviors only restrict attention to those actions deemed problematic without considering the potential for promoting more positive or compatible actions. Focusing on incompatible behaviors provides a clear pathway for change by ensuring that the new behavior is not just preferred but also structurally incompatible with the behavior one seeks to diminish.