Question

ch 8 Definition: CONCEPTS

Initial behavior

•Behavior that resembles the terminal behavior

•along some meaningful dimension

•and occurs at least with a minimal frequency.

Intermediate behaviors

•Behavior that more closely approximates the terminal behavior.

Shaping with reinforcement

•The differential reinforcement of only the behavior

•that more and more closely resembles the terminal behavior.

Summing up: Use shaping with reinforcement when you want to bring about new responses. To shape with reinforcers, identify an initial behavior that resembles the terminal behavior along some meaningful dimension. The initial behavior must occur at least with a minimal frequency. Reinforce the initial behavior until it occurs frequently. Then abandon that response. Select and differentially reinforce another response that more closely approximates the terminal behavior. Continue this procedure until the terminal behavior occurs, and reinforce it until it occurs frequently.

QUESTION

1.Define and give an example of the following concepts:

•terminal behavior

•operant level

•initial behavior

•intermediate behaviors

Answer 1

1. Terminal behvaiour- Desired or final behavior that is being shaped by a training or learning process, and which the trainee or learner has to demonstrate at the end of the process. For eg- If counsellor is tecahing assertive skills to a patient then terminal behaviour would be saying "NO" by the client at the end of the therapy.

2. Operant level-The operant level of a response is its "strength" when that response can be made without any restriction or consequence. For eg- The intial behaviour of the client before any conditioning has occuredi.e. the child saying yes only 3 times a week before conditioning.

3. Initial behaviour- This refers to the behavior that resembles the terminal behavior, along with some meaningful dimension and occurs at least with a minimal frequency. For eg- the strength of the individual to say no to his mom when she asks for homeowork.

4. Intermediate behaviour- Behavior that more closely approximates the terminal behavior, where the counsellor divides the whole task into smaller goals which can be easily achieved by the client. For eg- in asserive skills, the counsellor can divide the task into first ignoring, avoiding and then sayig no.