Ch.9 Stimulus Discrimination & Stimulus Generalization
1. What is a stimulus to give two examples that are not from the text?
A stimulus is anything that elicits a response or reaction from an organism. It can be a physical,
chemical, or environmental factor that prompts a behavioral or physiological change.
Here are two examples:
1. Bright Light: When you step into a brightly lit room after being in the dark, the sudden
brightness acts as a stimulus, causing you to squint or shield your eyes.
2. Temperature Change: When you touch a hot surface, the heat serves as a stimulus,
triggering a reflex action to withdraw your hand quickly to avoid injury.
2. What is an ABC assessment?
An ABC assessment is a tool used primarily in behavioral analysis to understand the
relationship between behavior and its context. It stands for:
● A (Antecedent): What happens before the behavior occurs. This could be a specific
event, situation, or environmental cue that triggers the behavior.
● B (Behavior): The actual behavior or action that is being observed. This is the response
that follows the antecedent.
● C (Consequence): What happens after the behavior occurs. This includes any rewards,
punishments, or reactions that may reinforce or discourage the behavior.
By analyzing the ABCs, practitioners can identify patterns and develop strategies for behavior
modification or intervention.
3. Define Stimulus control?
Stimulus control is when a behavior is influenced by specific cues or signals in the environment.
It means that a certain action is more likely to happen in the presence of a particular stimulus.
For example, a dog sits when it hears the command "sit," showing that the command triggers
that behavior.
4. What is an example of a good stimulus control? Give an example that is not in this chapter?
For pets, a good example is a dog sitting at the door when it sees its owner pick up the leash.
The sight of the leash serves as a stimulus that signals to the dog that it’s time for a walk,
prompting the desired behavior.
5. Define SD and give an example that is not in this chapter. Identify both the SD and the
response in the example.
,SD stands for Discriminative Stimulus, which is a specific cue or signal that indicates the
availability of reinforcement for a particular behavior. It essentially sets the occasion for a
response to occur.
Example: A child sees a cookie jar on the kitchen counter.
● SD: The sight of the cookie jar.
● Response: The child reaches for the cookie jar to get a cookie.
In this case, the cookie jar acts as the discriminative stimulus that signals to the child that
cookies are available, prompting the behavior of reaching for them.
6.Define SDelta and give an example that is not in this chapter. Identify both the SDelta and the
response in the example.
SΔ (S-Delta) is a stimulus that signals the absence of reinforcement for a particular behavior. It
indicates that a response will not result in a positive outcome or reward.
Example: A student sees a closed classroom door.
● SΔ: The closed classroom door.
● Response: The student does not knock or try to enter the classroom.
In this case, the closed door serves as the SΔ, signaling to the student that entering the
classroom is not appropriate or will not lead to a positive outcome (e.g., they may be late or
disruptive).
7. What is the difference between a stimulus and a discriminative stimulus?
The difference between a stimulus and a discriminative stimulus (SD) is primarily in their
function in influencing behavior:
1. Stimulus: A general term for any external cue or change in the environment that can
elicit a response. Stimuli can be neutral or have varying effects, but they don’t
specifically indicate the likelihood of reinforcement or punishment.
2. Discriminative Stimulus (SD): A specific type of stimulus that signals that a particular
behavior will be reinforced if it occurs in its presence. It indicates that a positive outcome
is available, thereby increasing the likelihood of that behavior.
8. In essence, while all discriminative stimuli are stimuli, not all stimuli function to indicate
reinforcement for a behavior. What does this sentence mean?
This sentence highlights the distinction between two concepts: general stimulus and
discriminative stimuli (SD).
● All Discriminative Stimuli are Stimuli: This means that any SD is, by definition, a
stimulus. It is an external cue that can influence behavior.
, ● Not All Stimuli Indicate Reinforcement: Many stimuli exist in the environment that do
not signal whether a behavior will be rewarded or punished. For example, a random
sound in a room may catch your attention, but it doesn’t indicate that a specific behavior
will lead to a positive outcome.
In short, while a discriminative stimulus specifically signals that a behavior will be reinforced,
general stimuli may not provide any clear information about the consequences of a behavior.
9. Give an example of a stimulus that is an SD for one behavior and an SDelta for a different
behavior. (below are two examples)
Example: A ringing doorbell.
● As an SD: When the doorbell rings, it signals to a child that it’s time to run to the door
and greet the guests. The ringing doorbell acts as an SD for the behavior of running to
the door because the child knows that doing so will likely result in positive reinforcement
(e.g., getting to see friends or receiving visitors).
● As an SΔ: In contrast, when the doorbell rings while the child is eating dinner, it may
signal that they should not interrupt their meal. In this context, the ringing doorbell acts
as an SΔ for the behavior of leaving the table to answer the door, indicating that doing so
will not lead to a positive outcome (e.g., disrupting dinner or being told to stay seated).
In this example, the same stimulus (the doorbell) serves as an SD for one behavior (greeting
guests) and an SΔ for a different behavior (not leaving the dinner table).
Example: A classroom bell.
● As an SD: When the classroom bell rings at the end of the class, it signals to students
that they can pack up and leave. The ringing bell acts as an SD for the behavior of
gathering their belongings and exiting the classroom because it indicates that they will
be reinforced by having free time or a break.
● As an SΔ: Conversely, if the classroom bell rings during a test, it might signal to
students that they should remain quiet and focused. In this context, the ringing bell
serves as an SΔ for the behavior of talking or getting up from their seats, indicating that
doing so would not lead to a positive outcome (e.g., being reprimanded or losing points
on the test).
In this case, the classroom bell acts as an SD for one behavior (leaving class) and an SΔ for a
different behavior (not talking during a test).
10. Describe the stimulus discrimination training procedure, and give an example that is not in
this chapter.
