DB replies. Reply to each person below in separate post.

Reply to Rylee

There are many examples of shaping in research. In 1971, Horner used shaping to help a 5-year-old boy born with Spina Bifida learn to walk using crutches. When Horner met this child, the child could crawl but could not walk due to his condition. There were two shaping procedures Horner used with the child. The first procedure consisted of the child completing 12 approximations. The approximations started with the child holding onto a parallel bar while sitting on a stool in order to familiarize the child with the bar. By the 12th approximation, the child could take steps independently while holding onto the parallel bar for support. The second shaping procedure that Horner used with the child consisted of 3 step approximations and taught the boy how to use crutches. After 120 sessions, the boy was able to walk with crutches without assistance from others. The child experienced a greater quality of life due to this shaping procedure. (Miltenberger, R. G., (2023), p. 170-171)).

An example of how I have used shaping to impact the behavior of someone else is when I helped potty train my little cousin. I used to babysit my little cousin a few times. a week from the time she was a newborn to the time she was five. When she turned 2, her mother asked me to assist in the potty training process. Without knowing it at the time I went through the 7 shaping guidelines that our Behavior Modifications textbook lays out (Miltenberger, R. G., (2023), p. 174). Step 1: define the target behavior: potty train the child. Step 2: Is shaping appropriate? yes. Step 3: Identity starting behavior: child uses the bathroom in a diaper. Step 4: choose shaping steps: familiarize the child with the toilet, have them sit on the toilet, and reward and praise them when they use the toilet. Step 5: choose reinforcements: stickers and candy. Step 6: differentially reinforce successive approximations. Step 7: move through the steps at a proper pace. By using these steps, ( even though it was unknowingly at the time), I successfully helped potty train my younger cousin.

~Rylee Klaetsch

Reply to Jessica

Shaping is used to develop a target behavior that a person does not currently exhibit. Shaping is defined as the differential reinforcement of successive approximations of a target behavior until the person exhibits the target behavior. Differential reinforcement involves the basic principles of reinforcement and extinction. Differential reinforcement occurs when one particular behavior is reinforced and all other behaviors are not reinforced in a particular situation. As a result, the behavior that is reinforced increases and the behaviors that are not reinforced decrease through extinction. When I think of shaping and developing behavior I think of how I am with my patients. I am an occupational therapist and I work with patients with different forms of dx and it's my job to get them back to independence so they can go home safely. While on program when my patients are under my care I will start off simple with simple directions on how to do something. I usually will praise them for being able to follow my directions. Once I see that my pt is able to follow that simple task and direction it is then where i will advance the task given and make it more complex. In the end this transitions my patient from even entering the facility with needing assistance from caregivers to exiting the building with increased independence. Perfect example of this in our textbook is Skinner putting this method in place with using lab rats by rewarding their behavior every time they were able to follow the directions given to them even after he advanced it multiple times.

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