How is stimulus discrimination acquired?

Stimulus discrimination is a learning process through which individuals learn to differentiate between similar stimuli and respond appropriately to each one based on the context or reinforcement history associated with them. The correct choice involves reinforcing responses specifically in the presence of the discriminative stimulus.

When a response is consistently reinforced when a particular stimulus is present, it strengthens the association between that stimulus and the desired response. This means the learner begins to recognize that their response will lead to reinforcement only under certain conditions, thus honing their ability to discriminate between the discriminative stimulus and other stimuli. This selective reinforcement aids in building a clear understanding that only the specified stimulus will elicit the desired behavior, facilitating more accurate responses in varied contexts.

In contrast, the other options would not effectively lead to stimulus discrimination. Simply reinforcing responses in the presence of any stimulus dilutes the specific association needed for discrimination. Withholding reinforcement in the presence of the discriminative stimulus would confuse the learner rather than teach them the relationship between the stimulus and the response. Lastly, providing reinforcement for all responses fails to establish any differentiation, leaving the learner unable to form a specific understanding of which stimulus requires a specific response.