Behaviour modification and shaping

Shaping

learning that results from the reinforcement of successive steps to a final desired behaviour

Reinforcement only continues each time behaviour is a step closer to target behaviour

Shaping supporting research

Nasa et al 2008 Behaviour shaping successful in supporting ADHD 11y/o by getting them to conentrate on tasks

Shaping refuting research

Bassett and Blanchard 1977

Benefits from shaping lost after inconsistent staff application, lack of training or high staff turnover

Shaping may not be effective if not applied properly

Behaviour modification

Can help people change learning by using rewards as reinforcers like a token economy programme to be exchanged for something desirable

Behaviour modification supporting

Hobbs and Holt 1976

Data collected over 14 months and token economy rehired in increased mean % of target behaviour for each cottage housing delinquent boys.

The comparison cottage without token economies had no improvement.

TEP effective for behaviour modification

Behaviour modification refuting

Blackburn 1993 argued that positive changes in prisons that use TEP may be quickly lost when they're released

Not learning behaviour is bad, just learning if gets them a reward