What type of reinforcement is typically involved in shaping?

Shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior. This means that as the individual gets closer to the desired behavior, each small step or approximation is reinforced to encourage progression towards the final goal. Initially, the behaviors being reinforced may be quite different from the target behavior, but as the individual progresses, the criteria for reinforcement become more stringent, focusing on behaviors that are closer to what is ultimately desired. This method is effective because it allows the person to gradually explore and learn the desired behavior through positive encouragement, making it a powerful technique in behavior modification and skill acquisition.

In contrast, the other options suggest different approaches that do not align with the principle of shaping. Initial behaviors alone would not provide the necessary support as skills develop. Negative reinforcement focuses on the removal of an aversive condition rather than reinforcing new, desired behaviors. Continuous reinforcement may imply that every instance of a behavior receives reinforcement, which does not typically occur in shaping since the criteria change as the subject progresses towards the target behavior.