Psychiatric Technician Practice Exam

What behavior-modification technique involves gradually reducing assistance to a client learning a new skill?

1. Shaping

2. Reinforcement

3. Fading

4. Echoing

The correct answer is: Fading

The behavior-modification technique referred to in the question is fading. This approach involves gradually reducing the amount of assistance or support given to a client as they learn a new skill, allowing them to become more independent over time. This process helps clients build their confidence and competence in performing the skill without reliance on others. Fading is particularly effective in teaching new skills or behaviors because it provides structure and support initially, making the learning experience manageable. As the individual becomes more proficient, the support is systematically decreased, which reinforces their ability to perform the task independently. This gradual withdrawal of assistance is crucial for fostering self-reliance and promoting long-term mastery of the skill. In contrast, shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations of the desired behavior, reinforcement refers to providing consequences that increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated, and echoing involves the repetition of words or phrases. These techniques serve different purposes within behavior modification and do not specifically address the gradual reduction of assistance as fading does.