If you’ve ever been curious about how therapists help children master new, complex abilities, shaping and chaining are two fundamental techniques in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Both are systematic, step-by-step teaching methods, but they are used for different purposes.

Here’s the key distinction: shaping gradually builds a single behavior by reinforcing successive approximations, while chaining teaches a sequence of distinct behaviors that are linked together to form a complete routine.

Shaping: The Art of Gradual Progress

Think of shaping as sculpting a new skill from raw clay. You don’t expect the final form immediately; instead, you reinforce each small, incremental change that moves closer to the desired outcome. The therapist starts by reinforcing a behavior that even slightly resembles the goal, then gradually raises the criterion for reinforcement.

• Example: Teaching a child to say “water.”

  1. First, reinforce any vocalization (like “ah”).

  2. Then, only reinforce sounds closer to the word, like “wa.”

  3. Next, require “wa-ter.”

  4. Finally, reinforce only the clear, complete word “water.”

Shaping is ideal for building behaviors that don’t yet exist in the child’s repertoire or for refining the quality of a behavior.

Chaining: Linking Skills into a Seamless Sequence

Chaining is used to teach a complex task that can be broken down into a series of smaller, teachable steps (a “chain”). The focus is on teaching the learner to perform these steps in a specific order to complete the whole activity.

• Example: Teaching the routine of handwashing.
  The chain might be: 1) Turn on water, 2) Wet hands, 3) Get soap, 4) Rub hands together, 5) Rinse soap, 6) Turn off water, 7) Dry hands.

There are two primary methods:

• Forward Chaining: Teach the first step first, then the second, and so on.

• Backward Chaining: The therapist completes all but the last step, teaching the learner to do the final step. Then, they teach the second-to-last step, and so on backward. This method is often highly motivating because it leads immediately to the natural completion of the task.

How They Work Together

A useful analogy: shaping is like perfecting the individual brushstrokes, while chaining is about assembling those strokes into a complete painting. In practice, a therapist might use shaping to teach a specific, difficult step within a larger chain (like shaping the precise finger movements for buttoning within a dressing routine).

At Happy Haven ABA, our expert clinicians skillfully apply these and other evidence-based techniques to create personalized learning pathways. Our South Carolina-based services are designed to teach essential life skills in the most effective and motivating way possible, including:

• In-Home ABA Therapy for skill-building in a natural setting.

• School-Based Support to promote academic and social routines.

• Parent Training to help families use these strategies consistently.

• Focused Programs that break down complex goals into achievable steps.

FAQs

1. Can shaping and chaining be used together?

Yes, absolutely. They are often used in tandem. A therapist might use shaping to refine a particular component of a skill (e.g., shaping a clear pronunciation of a word) and then use chaining to incorporate that skill into a longer conversational exchange.

2. Which technique leads to faster results?

It depends entirely on the goal. Shaping can seem “faster” for developing a single, specific behavior. Chaining is essential for teaching multi-step routines and is efficient because it breaks down an otherwise overwhelming task. The skilled judgment of a BCBA determines the most effective approach for each objective.

3. Do these techniques work for teens and adults?

Yes. The principles of shaping and chaining are universal learning strategies. They are effectively used to teach a wide range of skills to individuals of all ages, from vocational tasks and complex social scripts for teens and adults to self-care routines for younger children.