What is the term for the process of reinforcing intermediate behaviors toward a desired final response?

The term that describes the process of reinforcing intermediate behaviors toward a desired final response is shaping. In shaping, an individual is gradually guided toward a specific behavior by rewarding successive approximations of that behavior. This approach is often used in behavioral training, where complex behaviors are broken down into smaller, more manageable steps that are reinforced as the organism makes progress. For example, when teaching a dog to roll over, a trainer might first reward the dog for lying down, then for rolling onto its side, and finally for completing the roll.

The other terms relate to different concepts in learning and behavior. Discrimination involves the ability to distinguish between different stimuli and respond appropriately, while extinction refers to the decrease in response when reinforcement is no longer provided. Generalization occurs when a response is elicited by stimuli that are similar to the original conditioned stimulus. These concepts do not pertain to the progression and reinforcement of behaviors leading to a target behavior, which is the essence of shaping.