shaping

Etymology 1

From Middle English schapynge, equivalent to shape + -ing.

noun

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
2. (psychology) 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 an 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, page 51

Etymology 2

From Middle English shapinge, shapende, schapende, schappande, from Old English sċyppende, sċeppende, from Proto-West Germanic *skappjandī, from Proto-Germanic *skapjandz, present participle of Proto-Germanic *skapjaną (“to form, shape, create”), equivalent to shape + -ing.

verb

1. present participle and gerund of shape