Topic 9: Shaping Flashcards
Shaping
the reinforcement of successive approximations to a target behavior
shaping is used to establish a novel topography or dimension of a behavior
Differential Reinforcement
a procedure in which a specific desirable behavior is followed by a reinforcer but other behaviors are not, the result is an increase in the desirable behavior and extinction of the other behaviors
Successive Approximations
in the process of shaping, each successive approximation is a behavior that more closely resembles the target behavior
the shaping process starts with reinforcement of the first approximation, a behavior currently exhibited by the person, after the first approximation is strengthened through reinforcement, it is extinguished, a closer approximation then occurs and is reinforced, this process continues until the person exhibits the target behavior
What are the steps used in shaping?
- define the target behavior
- determine whether shaping is the most appropriate procedure
- identify the starting behavior
- choose the shaping steps
- choose the reinforcer to use in the shaping procedure
- differentially reinforce successive approximations
- move through the shaping steps at a proper place
What is shaping?
the differential reinforcement of successive approximations of the target behavior until the target behavior (or “terminal behavior”) is reached
target behavior is novel, or not currently exhibited
starting behavior (first approximation) which is most similar to the target behavior is reinforced
next, this behavior is extinguished (no longer reinforced)
this results in an extinction burst and novel behaviors
the novel behavior most similar to the target behavior (the next approximation) is reinforced
this increases further novel behaviors
What is differential reinforcement?
one particular behavior is reinforced, whereas all other behaviors are not
What are successive approximations?
each consecutive behavior more closely resembles the target behavior in a series of shaping steps
What is the definition of “steps” in the context of shaping?
advance to next approximation only after current one has been mastered
if shaping steps advance too quickly and behavior deteriorates, return to a previous approximation
if gaps are too small, shaping will be time-consuming (and expensive) and the person can become bored
What is quantitative shaping?
setting criteria to increase (or decrease) a dimension of an existing behavior
What is qualitative (or topographic) shaping?
degree to which successive behaviors resemble the target behavior
What are some applications of shaping?
physical therapy and exercise
appropriate classroom behaviors
animal training (zoos/animal parks, companion animals, pets, landmine detection)
How is shaping used?
- define target/terminal behavior precisely
- determine whether shaping is the most appropriate procedure (if person never exhibits target behavior, if you cannot tell the person to perform target behavior)
- identify starting behavior: should already be demonstrated by the individual
- choose shaping steps/approximations
- decide what reinforcer to apply (food can lead to satiation; money does not)
- apply reinforcement to successive approximations (and apply extinction to previous approximations)
- proceed through shaping steps at appropriate pace
What are the limitations of shaping?
- can be time-consuming, if numerous approximations are required
- progress is not always linear, it may be erratic
- requires behavior change agent to continuously and closely monitor behavior to detect the next approximation
- may inadvertently shape problem behaviors
How can shaping inadvertently shape children’s tantrums?
in infancy, crying is reinforced: food is presented, or wet diapers are changed
in early childhood, children learn demands: phrases to request a desired stimulus
if parents do not comply immediately, children become frustrated and complain
behavior may elevate to screaming, which is aversive to parents and embarrassing in public
parents “give in”, providing attention or a treat, which reinforces the tantrum
this advertent shaping can increase the frequency and intensity of tantrums
