Counselor Education Comprehensive Exam (CECE) Practice Exam

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What does the term "shaping" refer to in behaviorism?

Gradually reinforcing closer approximations of a desired behavior
Reducing a behavior by removing reinforcement
Using stress to facilitate coping mechanisms
Providing rewards for desired behaviors

The correct answer is: Gradually reinforcing closer approximations of a desired behavior

The term "shaping" in behaviorism specifically refers to the process of gradually reinforcing closer approximations of a desired behavior. This technique is utilized to teach new behaviors by rewarding successive approximations of the target behavior until the final desired behavior is achieved. In practical terms, shaping involves setting specific, incremental goals that lead towards the larger behavior change. For instance, if a person aims to teach a dog to roll over, the trainer may first reward the dog for lying down, then for lying on its side, and eventually for completing the full roll. Each of these intermediate steps is reinforced until the final behavior of rolling over is mastered. This contrasts with other concepts such as merely providing rewards for desired behaviors, which does not necessarily involve the incremental approach of shaping. Reducing a behavior by removing reinforcement pertains more to extinction rather than shaping, and using stress to facilitate coping mechanisms is unrelated to behavioral shaping. Thus, shaping is a critical component of behavior modification strategies in various therapeutic contexts, particularly in applied behavior analysis.