What is the process called when a conditioned response occurs to stimuli that are similar to the original conditioned stimulus?

The process in which a conditioned response occurs to stimuli that are similar to the original conditioned stimulus is known as stimulus generalization. This concept is central to classical conditioning, where an individual learns to respond not only to the specific stimulus that was conditioned but also to other stimuli that resemble it in some way.

For example, if a dog is conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell, it may also salivate at sounds similar to the bell, such as a doorbell or a chime. This demonstrates how the learned response is generalized to similar stimuli. Stimulus generalization plays a critical role in how behaviors are acquired and the flexibility of learned responses in various contexts, highlighting that learning is not limited to one specific stimulus but can extend to a broader range of stimuli that share common characteristics.