Discriminative Stimulus

A discriminative stimulus is a specific signal or cue in the environment that indicates whether a certain behavior will likely lead to a particular outcome, such as a reward or punishment. It helps individuals or animals distinguish when it’s appropriate to act. For example, a green traffic light (discriminative stimulus) signals drivers they can go, while a red light signals them to stop. Essentially, it’s a cue that guides behavior based on the context, informing you when certain actions are likely to be reinforced or discouraged.