When Luis was a child, he really liked the smell of the rose-scented perfume his mother always used to wear. He came to associate that scent with snuggles and hugs from his mom. As an adult, Luis likes any floral scent, including the smell of lilacs and wildflowers. This example illustrates the classical conditioning process of
A) stimulus generalization.
B) stimulus discrimination.
C) preparedness.
D) spontaneous recovery.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The example shows stimulus generalization, which is the process of responding to stimuli that are similar to the original conditioned stimulus. Luis's association with the scent of rose-scented perfume has generalized to other floral scents, leading to a similar positive response.

When Luis Was a Child, He Really Liked the Smell