While out trick-or-treating for Halloween, at first Billy's neighbours had to remind him to say "trick or treat" before they dropped their treats into his bag. As he continued to visit houses in the neighbourhood, soon Billy would say "trick or treat" as soon as the neighbours answered the door. In this situation, which operant conditioning term describes the change in Billy's behaviour as a result of the reminders and treats?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Shaping is the operant conditioning term that describes the gradual development of a behaviour through reinforcement. In this case, Billy's behaviour of saying "trick or treat" was shaped by the reinforcement (treats) he received after being reminded by his neighbours. Over time, he learned to say it automatically when approaching the door.

While Out Trick-Or-Treating for Halloween, at First Billy's Neighbours Had