Stimulus Generalization - 40 Hour RBT® Online Training

Stimulus Generalization

Stimulus Generalization occurs when a behavior that was reinforced in the presence of one stimulus is exhibited in the presence of other stimuli that are similar, but not identical, to the original stimulus. This means the individual responds to a range of stimuli that resemble the one used in training.

Example

A child is taught to say “dog” when they see a picture of a specific breed of dog, such as a golden retriever. Later, when the child sees other breeds of dogs (e.g., poodles, bulldogs), they also say “dog,” even though those stimuli are not exactly the same as the original picture. The child is generalizing the response to similar stimuli.

Scroll to Top