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differential conditioning

a classical conditioning experiment in which two or more stimuli are used, each paired with different outcomes. Most commonly, one stimulus (the positive conditioned stimulus, e.g., a light) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (e.g., food), and another (e.g., a tone) is not paired. The usual outcome is that a conditioned response is elicited by the positive conditioned stimulus but not by the other stimulus.

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Psychology term of the day

November 17th 2024

mother figure

mother figure

1. a person who occupies the mothering role in relation to a child: a mother surrogate.

2. in psychoanalytic theory, a person onto whom the patient transfers feelings and attitudes that he or she had toward the real mother or the primary caregiver. Also called mother substitute.