Which term describes distinguishing between similar stimuli and responding differently to each?

Which term describes distinguishing between similar stimuli and responding differently to each?

• A. Generalization
• B. Extinction
• C. Stimulus Discrimination
• D. Blocking

Answer: (C)

Discrimination refers to the ability to tell similar cues apart and respond differently to each. Through discrimination learning, an animal learns that one cue predicts reinforcement while a closely related cue does not, so its behavior changes depending on which cue is present. This is why the correct term best fits: it captures the idea of treating similar stimuli differently rather than responding to them in the same way. By contrast, generalization would mean responding similarly to related cues; extinction is about the loss of a response when reinforcement stops; and blocking involves one cue preventing learning about another when the first cue already accounts for the predictive value.

Discrimination refers to the ability to tell similar cues apart and respond differently to each. Through discrimination learning, an animal learns that one cue predicts reinforcement while a closely related cue does not, so its behavior changes depending on which cue is present. This is why the correct term best fits: it captures the idea of treating similar stimuli differently rather than responding to them in the same way. By contrast, generalization would mean responding similarly to related cues; extinction is about the loss of a response when reinforcement stops; and blocking involves one cue preventing learning about another when the first cue already accounts for the predictive value.