Which process involves reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior?

The process of reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior is known as shaping. This technique is commonly used in behavior modification and learning to gradually teach a new behavior by rewarding incremental steps toward the final goal. For instance, if you were training a dog to fetch a ball, instead of only rewarding the final fetch, you would provide reinforcement for closer approximations, such as moving toward the ball, picking it up, and then bringing it back. Each of these steps is reinforced until the dog is able to perform the desired behavior consistently.

In contrast, extinction refers to the process of reducing or eliminating a behavior by withholding reinforcement that was previously provided. Chaining involves linking together multiple behaviors in a sequence, where each behavior serves as a cue for the next. Generalization occurs when a learned behavior is exhibited in the presence of stimuli that are similar to the original conditioning environment. Shaping, therefore, is distinct in its focus on building a behavior through reinforcement of stepwise improvements.