How does shaping operate in operant conditioning?

Shaping operates in operant conditioning by gradually reinforcing closer approximations to the desired behavior, making option C the correct choice. This process involves reinforcing small steps that lead up to the ultimate behavior you want to instill. For example, if the goal is to teach a dog to roll over, you would first reinforce the dog for lying down, then for turning its head, and eventually for performing the complete rolling motion.

This gradual reinforcement helps learners understand what behaviors are desirable and how they can progress towards mastering more complex actions. It is a fundamental technique in behavior modification that emphasizes patience and incremental improvement, rather than expecting instantaneous results or full compliance from the outset.

The other options do not reflect the core mechanism of shaping. Punishing undesired behaviors would involve applying negative consequences rather than reinforcing positive behaviors. Defining strict behavioral boundaries does not facilitate the incremental process of learning, and expecting immediate full compliance ignores the gradual nature of behavioral learning. Shaping instead encourages ongoing refinement and motivation through reinforcement at every stage of developing the targeted behavior.