Final answer:
Shaping is the method of rewarding successive approximations toward a target behavior, which is an essential technique in operant conditioning to mold complex behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rewarding successive approximations towards a target behavior is known as shaping. Shaping is a technique used in operant conditioning where the goal is to mold a behavior by rewarding each step that resembles the final desired behavior. This method of learning is crucial because it is unlikely that an organism will perform a complex behavior correctly without successive approximations. Essentially, shaping breaks down a behavior into smaller, attainable steps and rewards are given for each step closer to the target behavior. This begins with reinforcing any response that resembles the desired behavior, progressively reinforcing closer approximations, and ultimately, only rewarding the precise desired behavior.