A young child mislabels a Dalmatian as 'cow' after labeling a Holstein cow as 'cow'. This outcome best illustrates which phenomenon?

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Multiple Choice

A young child mislabels a Dalmatian as 'cow' after labeling a Holstein cow as 'cow'. This outcome best illustrates which phenomenon?

Explanation:
Stimulus generalization is at play. When labeling a Holstein cow as “cow” was reinforced, the child learns to apply that same label to other stimuli that resemble cows. A Dalmatian shares the black-and-white, spotted pattern, so the child extends the label to it as well. This shows the response spreading to a similar, but not identical, stimulus. To sharpen discrimination, you'd reinforce labeling only actual cows and not dogs that merely look like cows, gradually increasing the ability to tell them apart.

Stimulus generalization is at play. When labeling a Holstein cow as “cow” was reinforced, the child learns to apply that same label to other stimuli that resemble cows. A Dalmatian shares the black-and-white, spotted pattern, so the child extends the label to it as well. This shows the response spreading to a similar, but not identical, stimulus. To sharpen discrimination, you'd reinforce labeling only actual cows and not dogs that merely look like cows, gradually increasing the ability to tell them apart.

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