WEBVTT

1
00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:10.000
Shaping is used to teach an animal a new behavior, such as a trick.

2
00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:17.000
Shaping is the reinforcement of successive stages of the desired behavior.

3
00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:25.000
It is based on the concept of operant conditioning first advanced by the work of B.F Skinner.

4
00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:32.000
You shaped a dog’s behavior, getting him to jump through a high-standing hoop

5
00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:39.000
by starting with a low hoop and reinforcing the dog’s behavior when he went through the hoop.

6
00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:46.000
You then gradually raised the height of the hoop, reinforcing the dog’s behavior at each stage

7
00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:50.000
until the dog could jump through the highest hoop.

8
00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:53.700
People are often shaped the same way.

9
00:00:53.700 --> 00:01:00.500
For example, consider the way we raise our hands in class to ask questions.