Stimulus Discrimination

Definition

Stimulus discrimination is the ability to differentiate between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli that have not been paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Theoretical Perspectives

Stimulus discrimination is understood through behaviorism, particularly classical and operant conditioning. It involves recognizing differences between similar stimuli and responding only to the specific conditioned stimulus.

Study And Research Findings

Research by Ivan Pavlov on classical conditioning laid the foundation for understanding stimulus discrimination, demonstrating that dogs could differentiate between the sound of a conditioned bell and other similar sounds.

Related terms

Generalization: This is when a conditioned response happens in reaction to similar stimuli to the conditioned stimulus.

Conditioning: The process of learning associations between environmental events and behavioral responses.

Unconditioned Stimulus: A stimulus that naturally triggers a response without any learning needed.