Chapter 58. Shaping a Response

Learning Objectives

operant conditioning
type of learning in which a behavior is influenced by the favorable or unfavorable consequences that follow it
reinforcement
in operant conditioning, applying a pleasant consequence to strengthen a behavior
shaping
conditioning a behavior by reinforcing successive approximations to the desired behavior
successive approximations
in operant conditioning, a step-by-step process moving gradually closer to the desired behavior
Shaping a Response
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Learning Objectives:

Understand why shaping is necessary for conditioning some behaviors.

Describe the basic procedures of shaping.

Review

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1. In operant conditioning, when a particular behavior is followed by reinforcement, the behavior will be strengthened and will occur more frequently in the future. It’s easy to use operant conditioning to train a chicken to peck at an object, or a raccoon to dip an object in water, because these animals commonly perform behaviors similar to the target behavior.

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2. But how can you condition an animal or person to perform an action that is not already part of their normal behavior? For example, pigeons don’t spontaneously turn in circles. How could you train a pigeon to turn in a circle?

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3. B. F. Skinner devised a solution to this problem. He called it shaping—reinforcing successive approximations to the desired behavior. By reinforcing responses that are ever closer to the final desired action, and ignoring all other responses, researchers can gradually shape complex behaviors.

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4. This technique is not limited to laboratory experiments. It is also used to train animals that perform in a zoo or circus, as well as animals that assist individuals with disabilities.

Practice: Using Shaping to Train a Pigeon

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Practice: Using Shaping to Train a Pigeon

Use the STEP buttons to move through the sequence of events in this shaping simulation.

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Step 1: Train the Pigeon that a "Click" Signals Food

We'll begin the shaping simulation by teaching the pigeon to eat food pellets from a dispenser.

Every few seconds you should select the “Reinforcer” button. The dispenser will make a clicking noise, and one pellet will appear.

Select the “Reinforcer” button, watch what happens, repeat several times, then move to Step 2.

Quiz 1

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Quiz 1

Select an answer to the question. Then, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

Try to answer the question again.
Elephants normally do not sit on stools, so this behavior would be shaped by rewarding successive approximations. Select the NEXT button and move to Quiz 2.
Which of these situations is likely to require shaping a new behavior rather than simply reinforcing an existing behavior?
training a dog to bark at strangers
training a cat to bat objects with a paw
training a chicken to peck at a coin
training an elephant to sit on a stool

Quiz 2

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Quiz 2

Match the terms to their definitions by dragging each colored circle to the appropriate gray circle. When all the circles have been placed, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

Perhaps you should go back to review the basic procedures of shaping.
Select the NEXT button and move the Conclusion.
shaping
operant conditioning
reinforcer
successive approximations
a step-by-step process moving gradually closer to the desired behavior
a pleasant consequence following a behavior; tends to strengthen the behavior
conditioning a behavior by reinforcing behavior that is tending toward the desired behavior
learning an association between a voluntary behavior and a consequence that follows the behavior

Conclusion

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