Question

Lola's new dog, Hoss, is afraid of loud noises. Every time her cell phone rings, Hoss starts barking out of fear. After a while, Hoss also starts barking when a phone rings on a television show. The fact that Hoss now barks when he hears a telephone ring on TV is most likely due to __________. a. stimulus discrimination b. stimulus generalization c. spontaneous recovery d. second-order conditioning

Short answer

The fact that Hoss now barks when he hears a telephone ring on TV is most likely due to stimulus generalization (Option B).

Step-by-step solution

1. Option A - Stimulus Discrimination

Stimulus discrimination is when an organism learns to differentiate between two similar stimuli and responds differently to them. In this case, if Hoss only barked at Lola's phone ringing and not at phones ringing on TV, it would be stimulus discrimination. However, Hoss barks at both, so this option is incorrect.

2. Option B - Stimulus Generalization

Stimulus generalization is when an organism learns to respond in a similar way to related stimuli. In this case, Hoss initially started barking in response to Lola's phone ringing and has now generalized his barking response to phones ringing on TV shows. This option seems to be the most appropriate answer for the behavior described in the problem.

3. Option C - Spontaneous Recovery

Spontaneous recovery is when a previously extinguished response returns after some time. In this case, we have no information about any extinguished responses. Therefore, this option is not relevant to the problem.

4. Option D - Second-Order Conditioning

Second-order conditioning is when a conditioned stimulus is paired with another neutral stimulus, and the neutral stimulus begins to elicit the conditioned response. In this case, there is no mention of another neutral stimulus being paired with the ringing phone. So, this option is not applicable to the problem. Based on the above analysis, stimulus generalization (Option B) best explains Hoss's behavior.

Key concepts

Animal Behavior

Animal behavior refers to the ways in which animals interact with each other and their environments. It is a broad field that includes how animals perceive their surroundings and how they react to various stimuli. In this case, Hoss, the dog, is demonstrating a specific behavior in response to the sound of ringing phones.
Originally, Hoss barked when Lola's phone rang because he may have associated it with a past experience that evoked fear—perhaps a loud noise that startled him.

• Animal behavior can be innate, meaning it is hardwired in their brains from birth.
• It can also be learned, which implies that animals adapt based on their experiences.

Understanding animal behavior is crucial not only for training pets like Hoss but also for conservation and the study of ecosystems.
Different species have varied responses. Unlike dogs, cats might run away instead of barking. This variation is important in behavior studies and highlights the diverse strategies animals use to cope with similar stimuli.

Conditioning

Conditioning is a fundamental psychological concept where an animal or human learns to associate a specific stimulus with a response.
In the context of Hoss, we believe he underwent a form of conditioning called classical conditioning. This happens when a neutral stimulus (like Lola's phone) becomes associated with a significant stimulus (such as a loud noise). Consequently, the formerly neutral stimulus starts to elicit a response—barking out of fear in Hoss's case.
There are two main types of conditioning:

• Classical Conditioning: Where the learning process involves pairing two stimuli until a response to one becomes a response to the other as well.
• Operant Conditioning: Involves strengthening behaviors by using rewards or punishments. However, this is less applicable to Hoss's situation.

The process of conditioning is powerful in shaping not only individual responses but in training animals for specific tasks. Understanding conditioning allows pet owners and trainers to guide animal behavior with greater precision.

Psychological Concepts

Psychological concepts in learning, such as stimulus generalization, are pivotal in understanding how animals like Hoss behave.
In this scenario, stimulus generalization occurred when Hoss began barking at the sound of phones ringing on TV. This demonstrates how animals generalize their reactions to similar stimuli once they learn a specific response.

• Stimulus Generalization: Response broadening to similar stimuli. Hoss generalized from Lola's phone to any ringing phone sound.
• Discrimination: Opposite of generalization, where unique stimuli elicit particular responses.
• Spontaneous Recovery: Previously learned behaviors can return after some time if encountered again.

These concepts illustrate the intricacy of animal and human learning. They show that learning is not just about isolated events but involves adapting to a broader context.
By understanding these principles, we can better manage how we interact with animals and even improve human psychological treatments by transferring this knowledge.