What is stimulus generalization?

Stimulus generalization refers to the phenomenon where an organism responds to stimuli that are similar to a conditioned stimulus, indicating that the learned response extends beyond the original stimulus. This is a fundamental concept in classical conditioning, where the response conditioned to a specific stimulus can be elicited by other stimuli that share similar characteristics.

For example, if a dog is conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell (the conditioned stimulus), it may also salivate to other sounds that are similar to the bell, such as a buzzer or another type of bell. This tendency showcases how the learning process can expand to include a range of stimuli that are not identical to the original one, highlighting the flexibility and adaptability of conditioned responses within behavioral psychology.

The other choices present concepts that are distinct from stimulus generalization, focusing instead on differential response abilities or the absence of a response. However, the core of stimulus generalization lies in the response to similar stimuli, confirming that the correct definition aligns perfectly with the behavior described.