Shaping in behavioral practice involves:

Shaping is a fundamental technique in behavioral practice that focuses on reinforcing successive approximations toward a desired target behavior. This method involves breaking down the target behavior into smaller, achievable steps and rewarding those steps as they are successfully demonstrated. By systematically reinforcing these incremental changes, practitioners help individuals gradually develop the desired behavior, making shaping an effective approach in behavioral interventions.

This process emphasizes the importance of providing feedback and support at each stage of learning, which facilitates continued progress toward the ultimate goal. The concept also aligns well with the principles of behavior modification and applied behavior analysis, where reinforcement is used to strengthen desired behaviors over time.