Shaping Behavior in AP Psychology

Definition

Shaping behavior refers to the process of reinforcing successive approximations towards a desired behavior until the desired behavior is achieved.

Related terms

Operant Conditioning:

Operant conditioning is a learning principle that involves changing behavior through rewards (reinforcements) or punishments.

Behavior Modification:

Behavior modification is a therapeutic approach aimed at changing undesirable behaviors through reinforcement techniques.

Reinforcement Schedule:

Reinforcement schedule refers to how often and when reinforcement is provided for a specific behavior, either continuously or intermittently.