I want to teach a dolphin to swim through a hoop. First, I reward the dolphin for swimming near the hoop. Next, I reward the dolphin for touching the hoop. Then, I reward the dolphin for sticking his nose through the middle of the hoop. Finally, I reward the dolphin for swimming through the hoop. Psychologists call this process __________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Shaping is a process in psychology where behaviors are gradually guided toward a desired behavior by rewarding successive approximations of the target behavior. In this scenario, the dolphin is rewarded for behaviors that increasingly resemble swimming through the hoop, which is a classic example of shaping.

I Want to Teach a Dolphin to Swim Through a Hoop