Answer to Question #84930 in Psychology for Samantha J Blalock

Question

Jody asked her father to teach her how to drive. Her father had recently taken a class in behavior modification and reasoned that because driving was a novel behavior for Jody, she could be taught how to drive by a shaping procedure. What is the problem with this application of shaping?

Answer 1

The problem with this application of shaping is that the procedure of shaping involves reinforcing the behavior that is closer to the target one, and in Jody’s case, driving is completely new behavior to the child.