What are the two primary types of generalization?

The two primary types of generalization are stimulus generalization and response generalization.

Stimulus generalization occurs when a behavior that has been reinforced in the presence of a specific stimulus occurs in the presence of similar stimuli that were not part of the training. For example, if a child learns to say "thank you" when given a toy by a specific person, they may also say "thank you" when given a toy by others, even though those individuals are different from the one who initially taught them the behavior. This helps expand learning to new but similar situations.

Response generalization, on the other hand, refers to the situation where a behavior is reinforced in one context, and similar but different behaviors are emitted in other contexts. For instance, if a child is taught to greet a teacher by saying "hello," they may also start waving when they see the teacher, displaying different behaviors that achieve the same purpose.

These concepts are foundational in behavior analysis as they illustrate how learning can transfer beyond the initial training situation to a wider range of circumstances, reinforcing the importance of context in teaching and behavior modification.