When shaping the behavior of an organism, you must
A)reinforce all responses.
B)set each criterion so that at least some of the existing responses are reinforced.
C)set each criterion so that only the response forms that exceed existing responses are reinforced.
D)set each criterion so that most of the existing responses are reinforced.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Setting each criterion so that at least some of the existing responses are reinforced is the most effective approach for shaping behavior. This allows for a gradual progression towards the desired behavior, rather than expecting a complete and sudden shift from existing responses. This approach also increases the likelihood of the organism continuing to engage in the desired behavior, as they have already received reinforcement for similar responses.

When Shaping the Behavior of an Organism, You Must