What type of behavior does fading aim to maintain?

Fading is a technique used in behavior modification where prompts or cues are gradually removed to encourage individuals to perform a behavior independently. The primary focus of fading is to promote and maintain target behaviors that are initially reinforced through certain prompts but eventually need to be performed without those prompts.

When target behaviors are reinforced independently, fading allows individuals to learn how to perform these behaviors autonomously over time. This process ensures that the behaviors are genuinely adopted rather than remaining dependent on cues or prompts, fostering greater independence.

The other options do not align with the purpose of fading. For instance, behaviors that occur only when prompted lack the goal of fading since the intention is to lessen prompts and support independent behavior. Instinctual behaviors typically do not require any cues since they are inherent to the individual, which does not involve the process of fading. Lastly, behaviors that are reliant on external stimuli are contrary to the fading technique because the aim is to reduce reliance on such stimuli over time, moving towards self-initiated behaviors.