After a pigeon learns to peck at a green light, the pigeon also pecks at a light that is a slightly different shade of green. This is an example of:
A) the learning curve.
B) the law of effect.
C) extinction.
D) generalization.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This behavior is an example of generalization, where the pigeon has learned to respond not just to the specific stimulus it was conditioned to respond to (the original shade of green) but also to similar stimuli (a slightly different shade of green). This is a common phenomenon in classical and operant conditioning, where the learned response is triggered by stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus.

After a Pigeon Learns to Peck at a Green Light