Stimulus Generalization is defined as:

• A. Responding only to the exact cue that was trained.
• B. Generalizing a response to a range of similar stimuli.
• C. Conditioning a response to a new neutral cue.
• D. Withholding reinforcement for similar cues.

Answer: (B)

Stimulus generalization occurs when a learned response is triggered not only by the exact cue used during training but also by other cues that are similar in appearance, sound, or timing. This happens because the animal extracts shared features from stimuli and treats them as effectively the same trigger for the response. For example, a dog trained to respond to a specific whistle may also respond to whistles that are close in pitch or duration.

That’s why the statement describing generalizing a response to a range of similar stimuli best captures the concept. The other ideas describe reacting only to the exact cue (which is the opposite of generalization), creating a response to a new neutral cue (acquisition), or withholding reinforcement for similar cues (which relates to extinction or differential reinforcing and is not about generalization).