Final answer:
Shaping principle 5 suggests that a player should not advance to a higher level in a video game until they have mastered the necessary skills at the current level to prevent failure and operant extinction.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to shaping principle 5, a well-designed video game will not let the player advance to a higher level until they have mastered the skill being taught at the lower level. This principle is grounded in the psychological concept of operant conditioning. Shaping is a technique where behaviors are broken down into many small, achievable steps, each reinforced until the complete behavior is learned. This helps prevent operant extinction, which is what occurs when a reinforced behavior disappears because reinforcement is no longer present. If a player advances too quickly in a game without mastering necessary skills, they may struggle and fail because they have not been adequately prepared for the challenges at higher levels.
An example of shaping in human behavior might be parents rewarding their child for progressively cleaning their room, starting with one toy and eventually cleaning the entire room. In video games, shaping can be seen when players must complete specific tasks or challenges that incrementally increase in difficulty, ensuring they have the necessary skills to progress.