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What term refers to the reinforcement of any behavior other than a target behavior that is being extinguished?

Option 1: Generalization
Option 2: Extinction
Option 3: Discrimination
Option 4: Shaping

User Nauman Ash
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Final answer:

The term for reinforcing behaviors other than the one being extinguished is 'shaping.' Shaping rewards successive approximations towards a target behavior, differencing from 'extinction,' where a behavior decreases after reinforcement stops.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term that refers to the reinforcement of any behavior other than a target behavior that is being extinguished is known as shaping. In the process of shaping, rather than rewarding only the target behavior, rewards are provided for successive approximations toward the desired behavior. This technique is crucial because it encourages the frequency of desired behaviors through positive reinforcement, enhancing the learning process by breaking down complex behaviors into smaller, more manageable steps.

During the extinction process in operant conditioning, a previously reinforced behavior is weakened when the reinforcement is no longer present. However, shaping comes into play as a positive strategy that reinforces behaviors that are closer and closer to the target behavior, effectively supporting the learning of new, desired behaviors.

User AniketGM
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