What is DRL?

Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates (DRL) is used for behaviors that are not bad, but happen too often.

Goal: Reduce the frequency, not eliminate it.

Examples

- Raising hand to answer questions (Good behavior), but doing it every 10 seconds (Bad frequency).
- Giving hugs (Good), but hugging strangers (Bad Context/Frequency).
- Eating fast (Good to eat, bad to choke).

RBT Practice Exam Scenario

Question: "The RBT tells the student: 'If you raise your hand 3 or fewer times during this class, you get a prize.' What is this?"
Answer: Full-Session DRL.

Frequently Asked Questions About DRL

Do we use extinction?

No! We want the behavior to continue, just less often. We reinforce the lower rate.