Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Shaping is a key technique in behavior modification that involves reinforcing successive approximations towards a desired behavior. This method allows for gradual progress as the learner is rewarded for behaviors that are closer to the target behavior over time, rather than requiring the individual to perform the final behavior perfectly from the outset.

In shaping, the process begins with reinforcing any behavior that resembles the desired behavior, no matter how rudimentary. As the individual demonstrates improvements, the criteria for reinforcement become stricter, so that only behaviors that are even closer to the final goal are rewarded. This creates a clear pathway for learning, allowing the individual to gradually reach the desired behavior through incremental steps.

This approach is significant because it acknowledges that behavior change is a developmental process that can be supported through consistent reinforcement of incremental improvements, rather than expecting immediate mastery of complex behaviors. This method contrasts with strategies that might seek to eliminate behaviors or suppress them through punitive measures.