What is an example of DRO in practice?

The correct example of Differential Reinforcement of Other behavior (DRO) is giving a child a toy for every minute they don't misbehave. This approach focuses on reinforcing the absence of a specific inappropriate behavior over a designated period. By providing a reward, in this case, a toy, for the child’s non-engagement in misbehavior, it encourages them to continue avoiding those unwanted actions. This creates a positive reinforcement system where the child learns that not misbehaving leads to rewards, ultimately promoting better behavior patterns.

In contrast, other choices do not align with the principles of DRO. For instance, ignoring all behaviors to cause awareness does not utilize reinforcement but rather a lack of response. Bribing a child for every correct answer they provide represents a form of contingent reinforcement based on positive behavior but does not relate specifically to the absence of misbehavior. Lastly, encouraging yelling as a form of expression does not address behavior reduction and instead may reinforce the very behavior that is typically undesirable, contradicting the DRO method.