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conditional discrimination

a discrimination in which reinforcement of a response in the presence of a stimulus depends on the presence of other stimuli. For example, in a matching-to-sample procedure, responding to a comparison stimulus that matches the sample stimulus is reinforced; that is, determining the correctness of a response depends on the sample stimulus. See also simultaneous discrimination; successive discrimination.

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Psychology term of the day

December 24th 2024

symbolization

symbolization

n.

1. in classical psychoanalytic theory, the substitution of a symbol for a repressed impulse, affect, or idea in order to avoid censorship by the superego (e.g., dreaming of a steeple or other phallic symbol instead of a penis). Also called symbolism.

2. in social-cognitive theory, the ability to think about one’s social behavior in terms of words and images. —symbolize vb.