Susan is teaching her 3-year-old daughter,Anna,to tie her shoes.At first,if Anna can make an "X" with her shoelaces,she gets praise and a big hug.Next,if Anna can cross a shoelace under and through the "X" she gets praise and a big hug.Finally,if Anna can make the loops to tie the bow,she gets praise and a big hug.Susan is using ____________ to teach Anna how to tie her shoes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Shaping involves teaching a behavior through reinforcement of successive approximations. In this scenario, Anna is being reinforced for making an "X" with her shoelaces, then for crossing the shoelace through the "X", and finally for making loops to tie the bow. This gradual reinforcement of successive approximations is an example of shaping. It is not stimulus generalization, classical conditioning, or negative reinforcement as these involve different principles of learning.

Susan Is Teaching Her 3-Year-Old Daughter,Anna,to Tie Her Shoes