Chapter 7

Question 1

Identify the three basic stages in any shaping procedure at the beginning of this chapter, and describe them with an example (either Frank’s case or an example of your own)

Answer 1

a) Specify the final target behaviour (Frank wants to jog a mile each day)
b) Identify a response that could be used as a starting point in working toward the final target behaviour (Frank puts on his shoes and walks around the block)
c) Reinforce the starting behaviour, then reinforce closer and closer approximations until eventually the target behaviour is achieved (Frank gets to drink a beer when he walks the block. Then, after walking 2 blocks, then 4 etc. until)

Question 2

Define shaping

Answer 2

Shaping is the development of a new operant behaviour by the reinforcement of successive approximations of that behaviour and the extinction of earlier approximations of that behaviour until the new behaviour occurs

Question 3

What is another name for shaping?

Answer 3

The method of successive approximations

Question 4

What is meant by the term final target behaviour in a shaping program? Give an example.

Answer 4

The final target behaviour is a specific behaviour that you would like to have displayed.
Example: Frank jogging a quarter of a mile each day

Question 5

What is meant by the term starting behaviour in a shaping program? Give an example.

Answer 5

The starting behaviour is the behaviour that reinforces the final target behaviour that approximates it
Example: Frank walking around the house

Question 6

Give an example of the Unaware-Misapplication Pitfall in which shaping might be accidentally applied to develop an undesirable behaviour. Describe some of the shaping steps in your example.

Answer 6

A child seldom received attention. He falls and hit his head, and his mother rushes to his aid. He receives the attention he craves, and so he deliberately falls down and hits his head again to gain this attention. Eventually his mother will see that he isn’t really hurt and will stop reinforcing it. The behaviour has now been placed on operant extinction, and the intensity increases. The child will now fall and hit his head harder to receive the reinforcement from his mother.