What term describes a series of responses that gradually approach a desired behavior?

The term that describes a series of responses that gradually approach a desired behavior is shaping. Shaping is a fundamental concept in operant conditioning, a learning process developed by B.F. Skinner. In shaping, successive approximations of a target behavior are reinforced. This means that small steps or movements toward the desired behavior are rewarded, encouraging the learner or subject to progressively get closer to the final goal.

For example, if you wanted to train a dog to perform a complex trick, you would start by rewarding the dog for any behavior that is a step toward that trick. Initially, this could be as simple as standing still. As the dog consistently performs that behavior, you would then only reward for actions that are closer to the trick, such as moving toward the designated position or performing part of the trick. Through this process, each step builds upon the previous one until the full desired behavior is achieved.

In contrast, trial and error involves making random attempts until a solution is found, without the structured reinforcement that shaping provides. Conditioning typically refers to the broader process of learning associations between stimuli and responses. Modeling involves learning through observation and imitation rather than through reinforcement of successive approximations. Thus, shaping is the precise term that captures the gradual process of reinforcing closer