Final answer:
The topic is shaping in operant conditioning, a method of reinforcing successive approximations toward a target behavior. Extinction is when a behavior decreases because it is no longer reinforced. Reinforcement schedules can affect the rate of extinction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question pertains to a process in operant conditioning known as shaping, which is a technique used to teach new behaviors by reinforcing successive approximations of the target behavior and putting all other responses on extinction. This method involves reinforcing behaviors that come closer and closer to the desired behavior over time. Extinction, on the other hand, is a decrease in the frequency of a behavior when it is no longer reinforced. An example of shaping would be training an animal to perform a complex trick by rewarding it for small steps towards the full trick, while not reinforcing other unrelated behaviors. In the end, only the desired behavior is rewarded.
Continuous reinforcement is when a behavior is rewarded every time it occurs, while various reinforcement schedules, such as fixed interval and variable ratio, have different effects on how quickly extinction occurs once reinforcements cease. An understanding of these concepts is essential for effective behavior modification, whether in humans or animals.