Differential reinforcement of other behavior increases untargeted behavior.

Joshua and team worked with 13 college students in a lab room.

Each person pressed a computer key to earn gift cards.

The researchers tried three rules: DRO, extinction, or fixed-time gift cards.

DRO meant: if you stop pressing for 30 s you get a card.

The team counted every key press, even ones they never told the students about.

DRO cut the target pressing by half.

But every student started pressing new, untaught keys.

These extra presses rose above baseline in every single person.

The gift card for "doing nothing" accidentally paid off other moves.

Extinction and fixed-time did not create this side effect.

Rogers-Warren et al. (1976) saw the same thing in monkeys.

They proved reinforcing a clear, specific choice beats DRO alone.

Flory et al. (1974) found blocking side moves under DRL wrecked performance.

Both older papers warn: if you stop one move, another will pop up.

Fahmie et al. (2016) later used this idea to prevent problem behavior early.

When you run DRO in clinic or classroom, watch the whole child, not just the problem.

Record any new fidget, vocalization, or escape attempt that gains strength.

If side moves climb, switch to DRA and teach a specific, useful action instead.

This keeps therapy clean and stops accidental habits before they start.