The name for the mechanism by which learning in one set of circumstances can be applied to a different set of circumstances is known as: Group of answer choices A. discrimination B. operant conditioning C. generalization D. classical conditioning
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is C. generalization.
Generalization is the process by which learning that occurs in one situation can be transferred to or applied in a different, but similar, situation. In psychological terms, generalization refers to the tendency for the conditioned response to be triggered by stimuli that are similar to the original stimulus. This is most commonly discussed in the context of classical conditioning, but it also occurs in other types of learning.
For example, if a person learns to associate a specific sound (like a bell ringing) with receiving food, they might start to respond to other similar sounds in the same way, even if those sounds are not exactly the same as the original bell sound. This broader response to similar stimuli is the essence of generalization.
In the case of operant conditioning (choice B), learning is based on rewards or punishments that follow a behavior, and the focus is more on how behaviors are shaped by their consequences, rather than how learning can be applied to different circumstances.
Discrimination (choice A) is the opposite of generalization. It refers to the ability to distinguish between different stimuli and respond appropriately only to the specific stimuli that are linked with reinforcement or conditioning, rather than responding in the same way to all similar stimuli.
Classical conditioning (choice D), while relevant in explaining how associations are formed between stimuli, is not the mechanism by which learning in one situation is applied to a different situation. Instead, it focuses on how neutral stimuli can come to elicit a conditioned response through association with an unconditioned stimulus.
In summary, generalization allows individuals to apply past experiences to new, similar situations, helping them adapt and make quicker decisions in unfamiliar contexts.