Quote:
Originally Posted by chapala
Differential reinforcement of an incompatible behavior (DRI) is a tool commonly used by positive reinforcement trainers to work on extinguishing undesirable behavior.
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This process utilizes what is called the matching law in behavioural sciences. Matching says that a behaviour that obtains more "reinforcement" is more likely to be chosen over a behaviour that has less reinforcement.
If a behaviour is chosen to reinforce that is incompatible with a behaviour that you want to reduce or eliminate then the behaviour should be replaced with the trained behaviour. It is important to remember that this process does not extinguish a behaviour - it replaces the behaviour.
Again - there are times (very few and very far between) where no appropriate reinforcer can be found for an incompatible behaviour. That being said I by no means encourage people to use punishment as a training technique...