Which technique is primarily used in shaping behaviors?

Shaping behaviors is a process that involves reinforcing successive approximations toward a desired behavior. This technique is effective for teaching new skills that may not already exist in an individual's repertoire. In shaping, the behavior analyst starts by reinforcing any behavior that is a step toward the target behavior, gradually requiring more precise responses as the individual demonstrates progress.

The use of reinforcement in this context is fundamental, as it promotes gradual improvements in behavior by acknowledging and rewarding small increments of success. This method allows for the successful development of complex behaviors over time, making it particularly useful in behavioral interventions.

Other techniques mentioned, such as extinction, positive punishment, and negative reinforcement, serve different functions in behavior modification and do not focus on the gradual development of behavior through successive steps in the same way that reinforcement of successive approximations does. Thus, reinforcement of successive approximations is the primary technique used in shaping behaviors.