A trainer claps when feeding; children clap to gain animals' attention; the animals learn to ignore the latter. Which term describes this learning?

A trainer claps when feeding; children clap to gain animals' attention; the animals learn to ignore the latter. Which term describes this learning?

• A. Generalization
• B. Stimulus discrimination
• C. Habituation
• D. Sensitization

Answer: (B)

Stimulus discrimination is being tested. The animals learn to respond to the clap that reliably signals feeding (the trainer’s clap) and to ignore clapping from others that does not predict food. This differential response shows they can distinguish between two similar cues based on which one leads to reinforcement. If they treated all claps the same, that would be generalization. Habituation would involve a decreasing response to a repeated, non-threatening cue, and sensitization would be an increased response to a stimulus, which isn’t the situation here.

Stimulus discrimination is being tested. The animals learn to respond to the clap that reliably signals feeding (the trainer’s clap) and to ignore clapping from others that does not predict food. This differential response shows they can distinguish between two similar cues based on which one leads to reinforcement. If they treated all claps the same, that would be generalization. Habituation would involve a decreasing response to a repeated, non-threatening cue, and sensitization would be an increased response to a stimulus, which isn’t the situation here.