Shaping behavior refers to the practice of reinforcing behavior that is approximate to the target behavior. It also includes withholding reinforcement that is less accurate of the approximations to the target behavior.

Wait, what?! Here is an example:

Client A is non-verbal and has an AAC device. As part of client A’s program, the RBTs are tracking independent vs. prompted mands and shaping independent mands.

Mands are things that clients “command”, “demand” or “request” for something that they need or want. When the RBTs are mand-training, they are prompting the client to use their AAC device or prompting them to try and use a vocal mand. This is to reduce maladaptive behavior such as aggression or tantrums to communicate wants and needs.

Client A has a section to track when they use their AAC device independently for a mand and if the RBT will be honoring their request, it is then shaped to a vocal mand and documented as such. In simpler terms, Client A types “bathroom” on the AAC device, and the RBT will face the client and point to their own mouth and say, “bathroom”. They are wanting the client to echo “bathroom” or sounds that are approximate to “bathroom” vocally. The RBT will then reinforce the mand and give access to the bathroom. If access to the bathroom is not yet available, the RBT would not be shaping the mand vocally, and not providing reinforcement or access.

If Client A were to start having a tantrum because they could not effectively communicate that they needed to use the bathroom, the RBT would not be reinforcing “bathroom” at that time. The RBT would wait until the client is calm and able to mand for the “bathroom” without maladaptive behavior.

Some clients may have a program to help them de-escalate from maladaptive behaviors, while others may just require blocking and redirection. That is all up to the BCBAs. The RBTs just follow protocol and track data.