Which statement best distinguishes generalisation from discrimination in conditioning?
ABoth refer to forgetting the conditioned response after a single trial
BGeneralisation is response to difference, discrimination is response to similarity
CBoth refer to responding identically to every stimulus encountered
DGeneralisation is response to similarity, discrimination is response to difference
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Generalisation is response to similarity, discrimination is response to difference
1. Once a conditioned response is established to a CS, similar stimuli can also evoke that response.
2. Responding similarly to similar stimuli is generalisation.
3. When the organism responds differently to similar but distinct stimuli, that is discrimination.
4. The chapter sums it up: generalisation is due to similarity while discrimination is a response due to difference.
5. Distractor 2 swaps the two definitions.
6. Hence generalisation tracks similarity and discrimination tracks difference.
_Source: NCERT Class 11 Psychology Ch 5 "Learning", p. 85, Generalisation and Discrimination_
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