Which one of the following statements best characterizes how reinforcement of incompatible behavior can help reduce people's inappropriate behaviors?
A) When we reinforce different people for different behaviors, they begin to discover which behaviors are appropriate and which are not.
B) Negative reinforcement of an incompatible behavior can ultimately reduce the frequency of that behavior.
C) An undesirable behavior will decrease when a person is reinforced for behaving in an opposite manner.
D) We can reduce serious behavior problems by allowing people to engage in less serious misbehaviors.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

By reinforcing an incompatible behavior, a person is being positively reinforced for engaging in a behavior that is incompatible with the inappropriate behavior. This makes it less likely that the person will engage in the problematic behavior in the future. For example, if a child is being reinforced for sitting quietly and reading instead of disruptive behavior during class, they are less likely to continue the disruptive behavior.

Which One of the Following Statements Best Characterizes How Reinforcement