Most animals can adjust to slight variations in the conditioned stimulus, an adaptation known as:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Generalization refers to the ability of animals (and humans) to respond to not only the specific conditioned stimulus, but also to similar stimuli that share certain features with the conditioned stimulus. This adaptation allows animals to generalize what they have learned to new situations and contexts, and to respond appropriately to stimuli that are not identical to the conditioned stimulus. Discrimination, on the other hand, refers to the ability to distinguish between similar stimuli and to respond only to the specific conditioned stimulus. Extinction refers to the gradual reduction and eventual cessation of a learned response when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus. Second-order conditioning refers to the process by which a neutral stimulus that has never been directly associated with the unconditioned stimulus can become a conditioned stimulus through association with a previously established conditioned stimulus.

Most Animals Can Adjust to Slight Variations in the Conditioned