chpater 9 - shaping

Question 1

differential reinforcement

Answer 1

-occurs when one particular behaviour is reinforced and all other behaviours are not reinforced in a particular situation- this results in a desirable behaviour and extinction to all other ones

Question 2

shaping

Answer 2

• the reinforcement of the successive approximation to a target behaviour
• used to establish a novel topography or dimension of a behaviour

Question 3

successive approximation

Answer 3

• in the process of shaping, each successive approximation is a behaviour that more closely resembles the TB
• to begin with shaping, you identify an existing behaviour that is an approximation of the TB- “starting behaviour”
• *you then reinforce this behaviour –> as a result, the person starts to exhibit this behaviour more often

Question 4

applications of shaping

Answer 4

• shaping can be used in the following ways:
• generating a novel behaviour
• reinstating a previously exhibited behaviour
• changing some dimension of an existing behaviour

Question 5

how to use shaping:

Answer 5

1. define the TB
2. determine whether shaping is the most appropriate procedure
3. identify the starting behaviour
4. choosing the shaping steps
5. choose the reinforcer to use the shaping procedure
6. differentially reinforce each successive approximation
7. move through the shaping steps at a proper place

Question 6

shaping of problem behaviour

Answer 6

• in certain circumstances, problem behaviours may be developed unintentionally through shaping

Question 7

quantitative shaping

Answer 7

• setting criteria to increase (or decrease) a dimension of an existing behaviour
  ie. number of dishes washed in a 5-miinute period