A teacher and student nose rubbing example illustrates which concept?

• A. Stimulus control
• B. Generalization
• C. Formal similarity
• D. Discrimination

Answer: (C)

Formal similarity means the model and the learner’s response share the same physical form. In this nose-rubbing example, the teacher’s nose rubbing provides a model, and the student reproduces the exact topographic action with their own nose. Because the movements look the same, imitation occurs readily, illustrating formal similarity.

This isn’t about responding to cues regardless of form (that would be stimulus control), nor about responding to similar but not identical stimuli (generalization), nor about distinguishing when to respond to different cues (discrimination). The emphasis here is the exact physical match between the modeled action and the learner’s response.