stimulus fading
A gradual reduction of prompts or cues used to support a behavior until the behavior occurs independently under natural conditions.
Full Definition
Stimulus fading is a systematic process of gradually reducing the intensity, frequency, or salience of prompts or discriminative stimuli that support desired behaviors. The goal is to transfer stimulus control from artificial prompts to naturally occurring environmental cues. This technique is essential in ensuring that learned behaviors generalize to real-world settings and maintain without continued therapeutic support. Fading procedures must be carefully planned and implemented to prevent prompt dependency while maintaining behavioral gains.
Usage
Usage note: Often confused with stimulus generalization; fading refers to prompt reduction, not behavior transfer across settings.
In Context
- "The speech therapist began stimulus fading by reducing the visual prompts for correct articulation." — Therapy session note
- "Stimulus fading was implemented too rapidly, resulting in a temporary decrease in target behaviors." — Clinical supervision meeting