Shaping is a technique used to establish new behaviors through reinforcement of successive approximations. It involves defining a target behavior and breaking it down into gradual steps that reinforce closer approximations over time. Shaping is commonly used to train animals and rehabilitate human behaviors. Examples of how it is applied include teaching patients to increase time between bathroom visits or training an old man to walk using parallel bars in gradual steps from sitting to taking multiple steps of support. Guidelines for effective shaping specify selecting a desired behavior and reinforcer, then reinforcing mastery of each step before moving to the next approximation.