What is the main goal of shaping in behavior modification?

Shaping is a fundamental technique in behavior modification that focuses specifically on teaching new behaviors through a process of successive approximations. This means that shaping starts with reinforcing any behavior that is somewhat close to the desired new behavior, and then gradually requires closer and closer approximations to the target behavior before providing reinforcement. By breaking down the learning process into manageable steps and reinforcing progress towards the final desired behavior, shaping effectively facilitates the acquisition of complex behaviors that can be difficult to learn all at once. The emphasis is on gradual improvement, which is crucial in behavior modification, particularly when working with new or challenging tasks.