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Operant Conditioning (Skinner)
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According to B. F. Skinner's Operant Conditioning Theory, the concept of 'Shaping'—whereby instead of achieving a complex or new desired behavior all at once, successive approximations moving toward the goal are reinforced step-by-step to gradually establish the behavior—has profound psychological implications for classroom teaching. Regarding the acquisition of complex skills, positive habit formation, and the scientific management of gradual learning in students, which of the following psychological statements is most authentic and scientifically valid?

Detailed Explanation & Solution

Concept of Shaping in Operant Conditioning

In B. F. Skinner's Operant Conditioning theory, Shaping is a crucial technique used when an organism or student cannot learn a complex new behavior all at once.

  • Successive Approximations: The teacher or experimenter reinforces every small, correct step taken in the direction of the ultimate goal.
  • Gradual Development: Through this step-by-step reinforcement, the desired complex behavior or skill is eventually fully developed.
  • Classroom Application: This method is highly scientific and effective for teaching difficult subjects, manual skills, or complex writing processes in the classroom.

Therefore, Option B accurately describes the core mechanism and educational significance of shaping.

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