Question

Explain why there are two discriminations in the first phase of the training procedure.

Options:
A) To reinforce complex behaviors
B) To prevent generalization
C) To encourage confusion
D) To establish specific associations

Answer 1

There are two discriminations in the first phase of the training procedure to establish specific associations, enabling organisms to respond appropriately to distinct stimuli by learning to differentiate between similar stimuli, as seen in Pavlov's dogs.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to the concept of stimulus discrimination in the first phase of training procedures in the context of associative learning, particularly classical conditioning and operant conditioning. The correct answer to why there are two discriminations in the first phase of the training procedure is to establish specific associations. The process of stimulus discrimination allows an organism to learn to respond differently to various stimuli that are similar but not the same.

For example, Pavlov's dogs learned to respond only to the specific tone that predicted food, not to other similar tones such as a doorbell, thus establishing a specific association with the conditioned stimulus. This process is critical for aiding the organism in recognizing which stimuli are associated with which outcomes and in behaving accordingly. It is the opposite of stimulus generalization, where the organism would respond the same way to similar stimuli.