Shaping by successive approximations
A trainer teaches a dog to ring a bell by first rewarding it for approaching the bell, then for touching it, and finally only for ringing it. This is:
Answer D: explanation for every choice
A
Generalization is responding to stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus.
B
Spontaneous recovery is the return of an extinguished response after a rest.
C
Habituation is a decreased response to a repeated stimulus.
D
Correct. Shaping reinforces successive approximations of a target behavior.
TakeawayShaping: reinforce each step closer to the target behavior.
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Reviewed 2026-11-05 by a medical student. Spot an error? Report it with question ID ps71.