Question

Which of the following regarding shaping by successive approximation and autoshaping is true?

1) Pigeons learned table tennis through shaping, but autoshaping could also be used.
2) Only shaping leads to an increase in the desired behaviour.
3) Autoshaping involves identifying an association through random behaviour.
4) Autoshaping typically leads to a more complex task than shaping.

Answer 1

Shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations of a target behavior, while autoshaping is when an organism forms an association leading to a certain behavior. Pigeons learned complex tasks like playing table tennis through shaping, not autoshaping, which is often less complex.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the true statement about shaping by successive approximation and autoshaping, it's important to understand both concepts as used in operant conditioning. Shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations of a target behavior, which is how Skinner taught pigeons to play table tennis. Autoshaping, on the other hand, involves the organism forming an association with a stimulus that leads to a certain behavior, often without the need for active intervention by a trainer. Given the information, the correct statement is that pigeons learned table tennis through shaping, but autoshaping could not be used for such a complex task. The statement that only shaping leads to an increase in the desired behavior is misleading as autoshaping can also increase the desired behavior through the formation of stimulus-response associations. Additionally, autoshaping does not typically lead to more complex tasks than shaping. The complexity of tasks learned through shaping can be very high, as seen with Skinner's pigeons playing ping pong.