Stimulus Equivalence

Stimulus Equivalence refers to the emergence of untrained or unreinforced relationships between stimuli as a result of learning specific stimulus-stimulus relationships. It occurs when, after teaching certain relations between stimuli, an individual is able to demonstrate additional, untaught relationships between them, showing that the stimuli are functionally equivalent. This process involves three key properties: reflexivity, symmetry, and transitivity.

Example

A teacher teaches a student that the picture of an apple (A) matches the written word “apple” (B). The teacher also teaches that the written word “apple” (B) matches the spoken word “apple” (C). As a result, without additional teaching, the student can now match the picture of the apple (A) with the spoken word “apple” (C), demonstrating stimulus equivalence.

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