Exploring Generalization Psychology
The concepts of discrimination and generalization in psychology can be difficult to tackle due to the complexity of their connotation. Generalization psychology refers to the process by which individuals apply learned behaviors, responses, or patterns to new, similar stimuli or situations, thereby facilitating adaptation and learning in varied contexts. While discrimination in psychology is generally thought to be related to the concept of classical conditioning, it can also refer to the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people and groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, age or sexual orientation.
In this article, we will explore the concepts of discrimination, generalization and how psychology and individuals can be affected by both.
Stimulus generalization in the theory of classical conditioning
Pavlov and the theory of classical conditioning
In 1897, Russian psychologist Ivan Pavlov is thought to have published his theory and findings on classical conditioning that can hold relevancy in the practices of behavioral therapy to this day. Pavlov is thought to have originally begun with an experiment related to the canine digestive system. During this time, he noticed the dogs began salivating when seeing the people who would feed them.
Examples of psychological conditioning on human behavior
What is generalization psychology?
To fully grasp the impact that classical conditioning can have, it can be helpful to review the concept of generalization. Psychology has long sought to explain the ways humans learn to make deductions and simplify information. Generalization is defined by many as an aspect of conditioning that refers to the brain's ability to generalize similar things—possibly influencing a pre-set response.
Little Albert’s generalized fear response to similar stimuli
Many believe that the most famous example of generalization came from an experiment performed by behavioral psychologist John Watson in the year 1920. The “Little Albert” experiment is thought to have worked by introducing a 9-month-old child to a white rat and observing their interactions.
The Little Albert experiment
Initially, Little Albert enjoyed playing with the rat. Over time, John Watson would make a loud noise behind Little Albert’s head while he was playing with the rat, which might have startled the baby. After doing this repeatedly, the psychologist found evidence that suggested that Little Albert became scared of the white rat without the presence of the loud noise.
Generalization psychology and classical conditioning
The concepts of generalization and classical conditioning are relevant not only to the field of experimental psychology but also to numerous facets of everyday life. The findings of the Little Albert experiment have been applied to everything from classroom behavior to machine learning. Though it is a classic experiment that helped illustrate how stimulus generalization works, Watson’s study has been criticized for being unethical, and its findings have been questioned.
The role of generalization in the psychological learning process
Social anxiety and overgeneralization
This is not the only application of generalization, however. In other cases, generalization can evoke negative responses. For example, research shows that social anxiety is associated with overgeneralization. According to experts, individuals with social anxiety can, like most people, be conditioned to respond to a specific social stimulus with fear. However, they may apply their conditioned response to more types of stimuli than people without social anxiety.
What is discrimination?
How is discrimination harmful?
While major bias can cause harm, less obvious examples of discrimination can be harmful as well. These less obvious displays of discrimination are typically referred to as “microaggressions” by many and may come in the form of being treated with less courtesy or respect based on aspects of a person that aren’t likely to change—such as their appearance, race or age.
According to the American Psychological Association, discrimination is generally formally considered to be a public health issue.
Additionally, research suggests that experiencing discrimination can lead to numerous stress-related health conditions, possibly having both physical and psychological implications.
The often harmful and damaging nature of discrimination can have extreme effects on mental health. Understanding the full range of these experiences can promote a more empathetic and sensitive society.
Seeking mental health support for discrimination and generalization challenges
Online therapy
Due to the complexities of generalization and discrimination, it can be best to work with a mental health professional if you feel you are experiencing struggles related to the concept of conditioning—such as discrimination. This can feel overwhelming, however, if you don’t feel comfortable going out or being vulnerable in new environments. For those who experiencing these feelings toward intervention, online therapy might serve as a more affordable alternative to in-person therapy.
In recent studies, experts have found evidence suggesting that online therapy can be highly effective in reducing symptoms of certain mental health conditions, including those that can be associated with depression and anxiety. These can co-occur as a result of discrimination or generalization in some. Additional study suggested that online therapy as a modality can be equally as effective as face-to-face therapeutic intervention.
Takeaway
What are generalization and discrimination in psychology?
In psychology, discrimination is the ability to “perceive and respond to differences among stimuli.” For example, your dog may be able to tell the difference between your scent when you arrive home and your partner’s scent or sounds.
Contrarily, stimulus generalization is “the tendency to respond in the same way to different but similar stimuli.” For example, someone taught to associate red with anger may still associate lighter or darker shades of red with anger because they come from the same color family.
What is the most famous example of generalization?
The most famous example of stimulus generalization in psychology is the Little Albert experiment by Watson and Raynor. This experiment has often been seen as controversial due to its impact and intent. The researchers conditioned Albert to develop a fear response to a white rat due to a loud, scary noise played when he saw it. Instead of only fearing white rats, Albert developed a fear of other white and furry objects and animals, such as rabbits and seals, as well. His previous experience with the rat was enough for generalization to occur.
What causes generalization in psychology?
According to a psychology press, generalization in psychology occurs when people engage in learned behaviors in similar conditions to when they first learned them. The gradient can be positive or negative and often occurs as a part of skill mastery in the learning process. Someone can learn a skill and not experience generalization. However, someone who understands the skill well may be able to perform it in different contexts.
Generalization in psychology can also occur unconsciously, like in the Little Albert experience. Albert may not have chosen to be afraid of all white animals. Still, due to his age and limited exposure to white animals, he paired all similar stimuli in the same category as the initial white rat that had scared him. This is often known in psychology as response generalization.
What is generalization in behavior theory?
Generalization in behavior theory refers to a behavior occurring outside of a learning environment based on past experiences. This behavior occurs in similar situations and is based only on the knowledge acquired from learning the behavior. The same principles may also be practiced the same way as initially.
What is an example of generalization in an experiment?
Generalization in psychology research is slightly different than generalization as a psychological concept. For example, a researcher may generalize a population of people with various identities and unique personality traits into one or two groups for the study, even if they do not showcase traits in the same way or have all aspects of the study criteria in common, such as past experiences. However, researchers often take steps to be careful in research with groups, as bias can occur if bias is not sorted for.
What are the different types of generalization in psychology?
There are three types in psychology, including stimulus, maintenance, and response generalization.
What is generalization vs. shaping in psychology?
Shaping is a part of the discrimination process in psychology, allowing individuals to tell the difference between stimuli. It can also aid in generalization. For example, when babies learn to walk, shaping allows them to start by crawling, moving up to standing, and then taking their first steps. Generalization allows them to walk in different settings.
What is generalization, according to Skinner?
BF Skinner was the psychologist behind operant and classical conditioning theories in behaviorism. These theories led to the notion that generalization could be conditioned into someone, primarily after experiments like the Little Albert experiment. However, generalization can also be seen in Skinner’s experiments with dogs. When dogs were taught to salivate at the sound of a bell, they could use generalization to salivate at the sound of any bell, even when the tone changed.
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