Procedure to reinforce desired behaviour step-by-step
Daniels & Bailey state that the most important skill for leaders, teachers, and parents should be shaping. Shaping is a procedure that exists out of step-by-step rewarding of behaviour that moves towards the desired goal.
The mechanism of shaping is:
- Performer displays conditioned behaviour and delivers results, however not exactly conform the desired behaviour.
- Instruction, explanation, and training lead to alterations in the behaviour towards the desired behaviour. Each positive adjustment leads to direct and abundant reinforcement.
- Old or divergent behaviour will be ignored, leading ultimately to extinction.
## References
Daniels, A.C. and Baily, J.S., Performance Management: Changing Behavior That Drives Organizational Effectiveness, Fifth Edition (2014), pag. 239.