Which term describes a CR to values of CS not specifically trained?

Which term describes a CR to values of CS not specifically trained?

• A. Trace Conditioning
• B. Second-Order Conditioning
• C. Respondent Level
• D. Respondent Generalization

Answer: (D)

Generalization of a conditioned response occurs when a response learned to a specific conditioned stimulus also appears in the presence of stimuli that resemble that CS. In respondent (classical) conditioning, the response is involuntary and reflexive. If a dog learns to salivate to a particular tone because that tone predicts food, it may also salivate to tones that are similar in pitch. The CR spreads to these non-trained stimuli, though the strength typically declines as similarity decreases. This phenomenon is called respondent generalization. It’s different from trace conditioning, which involves a time gap between the CS and the US, and from second-order conditioning, where a new stimulus becomes a CS by pairing with an already established CS. The term “Respondent Generalization” precisely captures the idea of the CR extending to similar, non-trained CS values.

Generalization of a conditioned response occurs when a response learned to a specific conditioned stimulus also appears in the presence of stimuli that resemble that CS. In respondent (classical) conditioning, the response is involuntary and reflexive. If a dog learns to salivate to a particular tone because that tone predicts food, it may also salivate to tones that are similar in pitch. The CR spreads to these non-trained stimuli, though the strength typically declines as similarity decreases. This phenomenon is called respondent generalization. It’s different from trace conditioning, which involves a time gap between the CS and the US, and from second-order conditioning, where a new stimulus becomes a CS by pairing with an already established CS. The term “Respondent Generalization” precisely captures the idea of the CR extending to similar, non-trained CS values.