Final answer:
The statement is true; stimulus generalization involves responding to similar stimuli and indicates a weaker degree of control compared to stimulus discrimination, where responses are fine-tuned to specific stimuli.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that stimulus generalization demonstrates a weaker degree of stimulus control than stimulus discrimination is True. Stimulus generalization occurs when an organism responds to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus, while stimulus discrimination involves the organism learning to respond differently to various stimuli that are not the conditioned stimulus. An example of stimulus generalization is seen in Watson and Rayner's experiments with Little Albert, who was conditioned to fear a white rat and subsequently became afraid of other furry white objects, not just the conditioned stimulus.
On the other hand, stimulus discrimination requires finer control as the organism must discern and respond differently to similar but distinct stimuli. For instance, Pavlov's dogs learned to respond only to the specific tone that precedes their feeding, and not to other similar sounds, like a doorbell. This demonstrates a more developed and selective control over the response to stimuli, which is why stimulus generalization represents a weaker degree of stimulus control compared to stimulus discrimination.