You are trying to get your roommate to keep things neater,so you leave a nice note after she makes any attempt to pick things up.After a while,you leave a note only after she has stacked the dirty dishes,then only after she has brought them to the kitchen,and finally only when she puts them in the dishwasher.This process is an example of:
A) shaping
B) punishing
C) chaining
D) generalizing

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Shaping involves gradually reinforcing behaviors that lead to a desired behavior. In this scenario, the roommate's attempts to pick things up are being reinforced by the notes, which gradually become more specific as the desired behavior (putting dishes in the dishwasher) is approached. Punishing would involve adding an aversive consequence for not cleaning, chaining involves teaching a sequence of behaviors, and generalizing involves applying a learned behavior in different situations.

You Are Trying to Get Your Roommate to Keep Things