Extinction and shaping are both principles of operant conditioning, but they refer to different processes.
Extinction is the process of eliminating a previously reinforced behavior by no longer providing reinforcement for it. This means that the behavior will eventually decrease and stop occurring altogether. For example, if a child throws a tantrum to get attention from their parents, and the parents stop giving attention when the child throws a tantrum, the behavior of throwing tantrums may eventually go extinct.
Shaping, on the other hand, is the process of gradually molding a desired behavior by reinforcing successive approximations of that behavior. This means that the behavior is not present initially, but is shaped over time through reinforcement of behaviors that are closer and closer to the desired behavior. For example, if a trainer is trying to teach a dog to roll over, they may initially reinforce the dog for lying down, then for turning its head, then for rolling onto its side, and finally for completing the full roll over.
In summary, extinction is the process of eliminating a behavior by removing reinforcement, while shaping is the process of gradually molding a behavior by reinforcing successive approximations.
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Google Gemini AI
Jul 14
Extinction
- Involves removing a reinforcer for a previously reinforced behavior. - Over time, the frequency and intensity of the behavior will decrease and eventually stop. - Used to reduce or eliminate unwanted or problematic behaviors.
Shaping
- A process of reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior. - Starts with rewarding small steps that are initially unrelated to the desired outcome. - As the behavior progresses, the reinforcers are gradually shifted towards the desired end goal. - Used to develop new behaviors or strengthen existing ones.
Key Differences:
- Purpose: Extinction aims to reduce or eliminate behaviors, while shaping aims to develop new behaviors or strengthen existing ones. - Reinforcement: Extinction removes reinforcement, while shaping reinforces successive approximations. - Effect on Behavior: Extinction typically results in a decrease in the frequency and intensity of behavior, while shaping results in an increase in the desired behavior. - Use: Extinction is used for unwanted behaviors, while shaping is used for desired behaviors. - Example: Extinction: Ignoring a child's tantrum to reduce the behavior. Shaping: Reinforcing a child's sitting on a chair for increasing amounts of time to teach them to sit still.