PSY 322 Chapter 9 stimulus control

What is stimulus control?

The process by which behaviors are triggered or influenced by stimuli that precede them.

How is stimulus control measured?

By using stimulus generalization gradients that show response strength to variations of a trained stimulus.

What is a stimulus generalization gradient?

A graph showing how response strength varies with the similarity of test stimuli to the original stimulus.

What does a steep generalization gradient indicate?

Strong stimulus control.

What did Pavlov believe about generalization?

He believed generalization is innate and an automatic by-product of conditioning.

What did Lashley and Wade argue about generalization?

They believed generalization is learned through discrimination training.

How does experience affect generalization gradients?

Training conditions shape the gradient; discrimination training produces steeper gradients.

What is absolute stimulus control?

Learning a specific stimulus, like a fixed brightness or tone.

What is relational stimulus control?

Learning a relationship between stimuli, such as “pick the lighter one.”

What is the peak-shift effect?

After discrimination training, the peak response shifts away from the S− stimulus.

What does Spence’s theory propose?

Excitatory gradients develop for S+, inhibitory gradients for S−; the response depends on their net effect.

What is the intermediate-size problem?

When animals are trained to pick the middle-sized item, they tend to use relational rules, not absolute size.

What is behavioral contrast?

A change in response to one stimulus due to altered reinforcement for another stimulus.

What is the behavioral reallocation hypothesis?

When one behavior is extinguished, energy is reallocated to other behaviors.

What is the reinforcer habituation/satiation hypothesis?

Less reinforcement reduces habituation/satiation, increasing motivation for the remaining reinforcer.

What is concept learning?

The ability to categorize stimuli into appropriate categories based on experience.

What is exemplar theory?

Categorization based on similarity to stored examples from experience.

What is prototype theory?

Categorization based on similarity to an ideal or average prototype of a concept.

What is feature theory?

Categorization based on the presence of defining features of a category.

How can stimulus control improve study habits?

By associating studying with specific cues like location and time, creating consistent learning triggers.

How is stimulus control related to insomnia?

Associating the bed with sleep only (not other activities) helps reinforce sleep behavior through stimulus control.