Differential reinforcement of low rates of responding (DRL) to reduce dysfunctional social behaviors of a head injured man

✍ Scribed by Jenny M. Turner; Gina Green; Debra Braunling-McMorrow

• Book ID: 102759610
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1990
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 691 KB
• Volume: 5
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1072-0847
• DOI: 10.1002/bin.2360050103

✦ Synopsis

Differential reinforcement of low rates of responding (DRL) is a technique in which a positive reinforcer is delivered at the end of a specific interval if a target behavior has occurred at a criterion rate. Traditionally, it has been used in educational settings to manage classroom behaviors. Recently, therapists have begun to use DRL to reduce the rates of a variety of behaviors in non-educational settings. In this study, DRL was part of a behavioral intervention to reduce dysfunctional verbal and physical behaviors of a head-injured young man. The complete intervention program included DRL, changing criteria, and token reinforcement. Over a period of 15 weeks, the intervention resulted in reductions in behaviors in both categories from high rates to near-zero rates.

Individuals who have sustained a traumatic head injury experience many changes in their lives. These changes may include a combination of physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral excesses and/or deficits (