Concepts · Domain G
Fading vs. shaping
The difference in short
Fading and shaping change different things. Fading gradually changes the antecedent or prompt while the behavior stays the same. Shaping gradually changes the response criterion — the behavior itself evolves.
Quick comparison
| Fading | Shaping | |
|---|---|---|
| Operation | Gradually changes the antecedent / prompt | Gradually changes the response criterion |
| Effect | Behavior stays; the prompt changes | The behavior itself evolves |
| Example | Gradually reducing physical guidance until he responds alone. | Requiring better and better approximations. |
How to tell them apart
- Are you gradually changing the PROMPT/stimulus (fading) or the CRITERION of the behavior (shaping)?
Examples
Fading
Gradually reducing physical guidance until he responds alone.
Shaping
Requiring better and better approximations.
Frequently asked
Is reducing prompts shaping?
No. Reducing prompts is fading (you change the antecedent). Shaping changes the criterion of the response itself.
Related concepts
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