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matching to sample

a conditional-discrimination procedure that involves both successive discrimination and simultaneous discrimination. Each trial begins with presentation of a sample stimulus. Once the organism responds to that sample, two or more additional stimuli appear, only one of which matches the sample. Reinforcement is contingent on responding to the stimulus that matches. See also arbitrary matching to sample; delayed matching to sample; oddity from sample.

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Psychology term of the day

December 21st 2024

neurosis

neurosis

n. any one of a variety of mental disorders characterized by significant anxiety or other distressing emotional symptoms, such as persistent and irrational fears, obsessive thoughts, compulsive acts, dissociative states, and somatic and depressive reactions. The symptoms do not involve gross personality disorganization, total lack of insight, or loss of contact with reality (compare psychosis). In psychoanalysis, neuroses are generally viewed as exaggerated, unconscious methods of coping with internal conflicts and the anxiety they produce. Most of the disorders that used to be called neuroses are now classified as anxiety disorders. Also called psychoneurosis. —neurotic adj., n.