What is the name for the stimulus that signals the availability of reinforcement if a specific response is made?

• A. Discriminative Stimulus
• B. Conditioned Stimulus
• C. Unconditioned Stimulus
• D. Generalization Stimulus

Answer: (A)

Discriminative Stimulus. In operant conditioning, this is the cue that sets the occasion for a behavior to be reinforced. It signals that reinforcement is available if the specific response is made. For example, imagine a light turning on before a lever is pressed; while the light is on, pressing the lever is likely to be reinforced (getting food), so the behavior increases. When the light is off, reinforcement isn’t likely, and the lever-pressing behavior drops. This cue doesn’t itself produce the response or the reinforcement; it simply signals when reinforcement can be obtained. This distinguishes it from a conditioned stimulus in classical conditioning, which is about eliciting a learned response, or an unconditioned stimulus, which naturally elicits a response without learning. A generalization stimulus refers to responding to similar stimuli, not specifically signaling reinforcement availability.