CramX Logo

Q
QuestionPsychology

Which of the following is an example of stimulus generalization? A. Being conditioned not to laugh at hats B. Being conditioned to laugh at all kinds of hats C. Being conditioned to laugh when you see a top hat and cry when you see other kinds of hats D. Being conditioned to laugh when you see a top hat, then also laughing when you see other kinds of hats
12 months agoReport content

Answer

Full Solution Locked

Sign in to view the complete step-by-step solution and unlock all study resources.

Step 1:
I'll solve this psychology problem focusing on stimulus generalization step by step:

Step 2:
: Understanding Stimulus Generalization

Stimulus generalization occurs when an organism responds similarly to stimuli that are similar to, but not identical to, the original conditioned stimulus. In other words, the learned response spreads to other similar stimuli.

Step 3:
: Analyzing the Options

Let's examine each option carefully: A. "Being conditioned not to laugh at hats" - This is not stimulus generalization. B. "Being conditioned to laugh at all kinds of hats" - This is not quite stimulus generalization. C. "Being conditioned to laugh when you see a top hat and cry when you see other kinds of hats" - This is NOT stimulus generalization. D. "Being conditioned to laugh when you see a top hat, then also laughing when you see other kinds of hats" - This IS stimulus generalization.

Step 4:
: Explanation of the Correct Answer

In option D, the person initially learns to laugh at a top hat (specific stimulus), and then spontaneously begins to laugh at other types of hats. This demonstrates the key characteristic of stimulus generalization: the learned response spreads to similar stimuli.

Final Answer

D is the correct example of stimulus generalization.