Question

Why does the subject emit new responses that have never been reinforced but that gradually move it toward the target behavior?

Answer 1

In operant conditioning, shaping is used to gradually move the subject toward the target behavior by reinforcing successive approximations of the desired behavior.

Step-by-step explanation:

In operant conditioning, the subject emits new responses that have never been reinforced but that gradually move it toward the target behavior through a process called shaping.

Shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations towards the desired behavior. Initially, any response that resembles the desired behavior is reinforced. Then, the subject is reinforced for a response that more closely resembles the target behavior, and this process continues until only the desired behavior is reinforced.

For example, if a teacher wants a student to raise their hand before speaking in class, they can reinforce the student for any hand movements, then reinforce for hand movements that resemble raising the hand, and eventually only reinforce the behavior of raising the hand.