Shapingย is defined as a systematic process in which successive approximations of a desiredย behaviorย are differentially reinforced until the terminalย behaviorย is achieved. This method gradually moves the learner closer to the targetย behaviorย by rewarding small steps in the right direction.
Example
To teach a child to say โwater,โ a teacher may initially reinforce the child for saying โwa.โ Once the child consistently says โwa,โ the teacher only reinforces when the child says โwat,โ and finally, the reinforcement is given only when the child says the full word โwater.โ This process of rewarding each closer approximation to the targetย behaviorย is shaping.