Final answer:
Operant conditioning theory relies upon the shaping of behavior through rewarding successive approximations to a goal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement Operant conditioning theory relies upon the shaping of behavior through rewarding successive approximations to a goal is True. Operant conditioning, based on the work of psychologist B.F. Skinner, involves reinforcing behavior by rewarding successive approximations to a desired behavior. This process is known as shaping. Shaping breaks down the target behavior into smaller, achievable steps and rewards the organism for each successive approximation towards the desired behavior. Overall, operant conditioning relies on shaping to modify and strengthen behavior.