It is true that in operant conditioning, many complex behaviors are learned through shaping.
This means that you learn many new things through consequences that you experience. So, for example, when you're a kid, you are constantly being told not to touch a hot stove. But given that you are small and inquisitive, you still touch it and burn your hand. After that, you learn that touching something hot is going to hurt you, so you learn not to do it through a consequence.