Which term describes the ability to reverse the relation between stimuli?

Which term describes the ability to reverse the relation between stimuli?

• A. Reflexivity
• B. Stimulus Equivalence
• C. Symmetry
• D. Transitivity

Answer: (C)

Symmetry is the ability for a learned relation to go both ways between two stimuli. In stimulus equivalence, if one stimulus relates to another, symmetry requires that the reverse relation also hold. For example, if a picture of a dog elicits the spoken word “dog,” symmetry means the spoken word should also elicit the picture of the dog. This differs from reflexivity (a stimulus relating to itself) and transitivity (if A relates to B and B to C, then A relates to C). Stimulus equivalence is the broader framework that includes symmetry along with reflexivity and transitivity, but the specific “reverse the relation” idea is symmetry.

Symmetry is the ability for a learned relation to go both ways between two stimuli. In stimulus equivalence, if one stimulus relates to another, symmetry requires that the reverse relation also hold. For example, if a picture of a dog elicits the spoken word “dog,” symmetry means the spoken word should also elicit the picture of the dog. This differs from reflexivity (a stimulus relating to itself) and transitivity (if A relates to B and B to C, then A relates to C). Stimulus equivalence is the broader framework that includes symmetry along with reflexivity and transitivity, but the specific “reverse the relation” idea is symmetry.