Final answer:
Operant Conditioning is a method used to modify behavior by using reinforcements or punishments after a behavior is demonstrated. Behavior modification, particularly in children, often leverages Operant Conditioning to increase desirable behaviors, and shaping is used to reinforce successive steps towards a desired complex behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The method of behavior scrutiny you are referring to is known as Operant Conditioning. This approach to learning is based on the connection between behaviors and their consequences. In Operant Conditioning, the target behavior is influenced through either reinforcement or punishment with the aim of strengthening or weakening it, so that the learner is more likely to exhibit the desired behavior in the future.
Behavior modification, especially in children, often employs these principles, outlaying a systematic method of positive reinforcement to encourage desirable behaviors. For instance, a student who consistently performs well may receive praise or rewards which act as a form of positive reinforcement, increasing the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.
Moreover, shaping is a method used where successive approximations of a target behavior are rewarded. This technique is useful when the desired behavior is complex and not likely to occur spontaneously. It breaks down behaviors into manageable steps, allowing for easier acquisition of the target behavior by rewarding incremental progress towards the final goal.