Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Successive approximations refer to the gradual steps taken towards achieving a desired behavior, where each step is rewarded until the final behavior is reached.
Shaping involves reinforcing behaviors that are increasingly similar to the desired behavior in order to guide an individual towards achieving that desired behavior.