What is the defining feature of shaping in behavioral therapy?

Shaping in behavioral therapy is characterized by the successive reinforcement of behavior. This technique involves gradually reinforcing behaviors that are closer and closer to the desired target behavior. Instead of waiting for a person to demonstrate the exact desired behavior, the therapist reinforces any movement towards that behavior, allowing for incremental progress.

For example, if a therapist is working to encourage a child to speak, they might first reinforce any vocalization, then reinforce sounds that are similar to words, and eventually reinforce full words or phrases. This method is effective because it allows individuals to achieve success step by step, which can build confidence and motivation to continue progressing towards more complex behaviors.

Other options, such as analyzing social interaction roles, promoting insight through music, or reconstructing personality traits, focus on different therapeutic modalities or approaches that are not specific to the shaping process. These do not involve the systematic approach of reinforcing successive approximations of behavior, which is what fundamentally defines shaping within the behavioral therapy framework.