shaping

Noun

shaping (plural shapings)

1. The action of the verb to shape.
   • In contrast to the (to be sure, productive) shapings and constrainings of human identities in the sociotechnical network, here we have an expansion of identity.1996, Mike Michael, Constructing Identities: The Social, the Nonhuman and Change
   1. A method of positive reinforcement of behaviour patterns in a series of steps in operant conditioning.
      • In general, it's a good idea to know ahead of time what your shaping steps will be and try to get 80% to 100% correct trials during the shaping steps and repeat each step for only 5 to 10 trials in a row.2015, Ilona Rodan, Sarah Heath, editors, Feline Behavioral Health and Welfare, Elsevier Health Sciences, →ISBN, page 51
   2. The action of the metal-cutting machine called a shaper, which uses linear single-point cutting. It is largely but not entirely obsolete.