What are successive approximations in therapy?

Successive approximations in therapy refer to the method of reinforcing small, gradual changes that lead to the desired behavior. This approach is particularly effective in behavioral therapies, where it is essential to encourage a client to achieve a significant goal through manageable steps. By breaking the target behavior into smaller parts that resemble the ultimate behavior, the therapist can help the client experience success progressively.

For example, if a client is working toward the goal of singing a song independently, the therapist might first reinforce the client for simply vocalizing a note, then for singing a word, and eventually for singing the entire song. This method not only helps in building confidence but also promotes learning through attainable milestones.

Other options present different concepts that don't align with the definition of successive approximations. Immediate responses to reinforcement focus on the timing of behavior following a reward rather than the incremental steps leading to a goal. Unconscious motivations involve deeper psychological examination and are unrelated to the procedural nature of behavior modification. Cognitive deficits pertain to impairments in mental functioning, diverging from the technique of shaping behavior through gradual steps.