Final answer:
Shaping is the reinforcement of successive acts that lead to a desired behavior pattern or response in operant conditioning.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reinforcement of successive acts that lead to a desired behavior pattern or response is referred to as shaping in operant conditioning.
In shaping, behaviors are broken down into smaller, achievable steps and each step is reinforced until the desired behavior is achieved. This method is used because it is unlikely for an organism to spontaneously display complex behaviors without reinforcement.