What is a discriminative stimulus in psychology

Discrimination is a term used in the conditioning that means the ability to distinguish between a stimulus and similar stimuli, to respond only to certain stimuli and not respond to the similar.

The discriminative stimulus is the technical term in behavioral psychology to indicate something, as a person or an event, before a behavioral response. It is the opposite of a generalization of the stimulus, where the person learns that a behavior (such as asking for sweets in a grocery store) can also be done in other places with sweets (such as a minimarket). On the other hand, a discriminative stimulus is a specifically associated behavior or triggered by that stimulus. In this psychology-online article we will see in depth What is a discriminative stimulus in psychology, What is the discrimination of stimuli, how it works and examples.

1. What is a discriminative stimulus
2. How a discriminative stimulus works
3. Examples of discriminative stimuli
4. Relationship of discriminative stimulus with the delta stimulus

What is a discriminative stimulus

A discriminative stimulus is who evokes specific behavior or a set of behaviors, because in his presence that behavior has produced a reinforcement in the past. An event, a light, a sound, a symbol particular that indicates when an operant stimulus will be followed by certain consequences.

It indicates that this reinforcement, for that behavior, is probably available; The discriminative stimulus works, in fact, as an informant about the convenience or not of issuing a certain behavior in that situation ("now you can do the right thing", "the reinforcer will come").

The discriminative stimuli are things present in the environment that manage to acquire the value of "signal", and more precisely they indicate the consequence that has occurred after having acted in a certain way that can be expected again. Something that "suggests" that if we act in a certain way we can obtain a reward.

Identifying discrimination stimulus is important to find reinforcement, so what we need to increase proper behavior. A discriminative stimulus does not eliminate, however, a behavior: it simply alters its probability of occurrence.

In these articles you will find more information about classical conditioning and operant conditioning.

How a discriminative stimulus works

The discriminative stimulus describes something that is the trigger for specific behavior, and comes first: the behavior, therefore, continues as a direct result of this stimulus. The conditioned stimulus produces the answer, while The discriminative stimulus indicates the opportunity to respond. Creates the opportunity for specific behavior to occur, because the resulting behavior has already been reinforced in the past.

The previous or discriminating stimulus is part of a specific process in ABA therapy called ABC, an acronym that - translated from English - means:

• TO. Antecedent: These are the circumstances, actions or events that occur before a certain behavior. Consequence: This is the action or response after the subject's behavior.
• B. Behavior: This is the subject's response.
• C. Consequence: This is the action or response after the subject's behavior.

Examples of discriminative stimuli

Let's look at some examples of discriminative stimuli applied to daily life.

• If we see the sign "Electronic speed control" (Discriminative stimulus) We know that if we apply the behavior "respect the speed limit and not exceed 50 km per hour", we are very likely to return home without a fine.
• We see the light switch (discriminative stimulus); We press the switch (behavior); Light turns on (consequence).
• If the pecking of a dove is reinforced when there is a red light, but not when the light is green, The red light It will serve as a discriminative stimulus and the dove will learn to peck only when the key is red.
• In an experiment in which a mouse is taught to navigate in a maze, it is easier to train the mouse with a Highly desirable reward (such as peanut butter) that a less desirable reward as a piece of broccoli.

Relationship of discriminative stimulus with the delta stimulus

The delta stimulus is the result of the person's learning history: a stimulus, in effect, may be associated with another situation, if a reinforcement or punishment follows. When a stimulus is associated with the lack of reinforcement, there is talk of the condition of Delta stimulus, since it indicates that the reinforcement will not be available (if I go to the clothing store, I cannot buy the bread).

Therefore, we define as discriminative the stimulus that indicates that if we apply a certain behavior we will obtain a reinforcer, and Delta the stimulus that tells us that if we apply that behavior we will not get any reinforcer. This differentiation of stimuli can be useful for teaching children when it is the right time or context to do something. For example, We can make the child carry a bracelet that indicates (discriminative stimulus) that allows him to do a certain thing that, on the contrary, is prohibited in the absence of the bracelet (delta stimulus).

This article is merely informative, in psychology-online we have no power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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