In the context of developmental psychology, which of the following best defines 'shaping' as used in AP Psychology?

• A. A process of reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior until the target behavior is achieved
• B. A process of associating an involuntary response with a stimulus through repeated pairings
• C. A method of learning that occurs through observing and imitating others' behaviors
• D. A technique for reducing anxiety by gradually exposing an individual to feared stimuli

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that 'shaping' is a concept from behavioral psychology, particularly related to operant conditioning, which is a key topic in developmental and AP Psychology.
2. Recognize that shaping involves reinforcing behaviors that are closer and closer to the desired behavior, rather than waiting for the exact behavior to occur initially.
3. Identify that shaping is a gradual process where successive approximations (small steps) toward the target behavior are rewarded to encourage learning.
4. Differentiate shaping from other learning processes such as classical conditioning (associating involuntary responses with stimuli), observational learning (learning by watching others), and systematic desensitization (reducing anxiety through gradual exposure).
5. Conclude that the best definition of shaping is the process of reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior until the target behavior is achieved.