Behavior can be shaped in terms of 1) topography, or what it looks like, for instance a golf swing. 2) Frequency-how often the behavior occurs, for instance number of math problems completed. 3)Latency-time between command & behavior, like when a child is told to clean their room. 4)Duration-length of on-task behavior.

Shaping is a very important procedure for teaching new behaviors. Shaping can be done either across different response topographies—where the form of behavior changes over time—or within a response topography—where the form of the behavior remains the same, but another dimension of behavior changes over time.

Shaping is the use of reinforcement of successive approximations of a desired behavior. Specifically, when using a shaping technique, each approximate desired behavior that is demonstrated is reinforced, while behaviors that are not approximations of the desired behavior are not reinforced.

The shaping of behavior is accomplished by reinforcing only successive approximations of the final behavior desired. Explanation: Shaping of behavior is a concept in operant conditioning in Psychology. In this concept, reinforcement or punishment is used to shape behaviors.

Steps in the Shaping Process

1. Reinforce any response that in some way resembles the terminal behavior.
2. Reinforce the response that closely approximates the terminal behavior (no longer reinforcing the previous reinforced response).
3. Reinforce the response that resembles the terminal behavior even more closely.

Over the years, psychologists have pointed out number of different examples of shaping.

• Language Development.
• Getting a rat to press the lever (B.F. Skinner)
• Animal training.
• Rehabilitation (O’neil & Gardner, 1983)
• Voice Volume (Jackson & Wallace, 1974)
• Self-injurious behavior (Schaeffer, 1970)

Good stimulus control refers to a strong correlation between the occurrence of a particular stimulus and the occurrence of a particular response. An SD is a stimulus in the presence of which a response will be reinforced.

Stimulus is something that causes a reaction, especially interest, excitement or energy. An example of stimulus is a shiny object for a baby. An example of stimulus is an influx of cash into the economy that is designed to help the economy to gain momentum or energy.

The cue, referred to as a discriminative stimulus (Sd), is a specific environmental event or condition in response to which a child is expected to exhibit a particular behavior.

Stimulus control transfer procedures are techniques in which prompts are discontinued once the target behavior is being displayed in the presence of the discriminative stimulus (Sd). Prompt fading and prompt delay are used in stimulus control transfer procedures.

Stimulus-based control of behavior occurs when the presence or absence of an Sd or S-delta controls the performance of a particular behavior. For example, the presence of a stop sign (S-delta) at a traffic intersection alerts the driver to stop driving and increases the probability that “braking” behavior will occur.

SΔ (S-Delta or Stimulus Delta) is behavior speak for a stimulus that signals that no reinforcers are available based on this stimulus. This is a perfect example of operant behavior because the thing that has control of Kayley’s behavior in this instance is the consequence.