What is a discriminative stimulus?

A discriminative stimulus is best understood as an environmental cue that triggers specific behaviors by providing information about the context in which reinforcement is available. It signals to the individual that certain behaviors will likely lead to a favorable outcome or reinforcement in that moment. For example, if a child learns that saying "please" when asking for a toy results in receiving it, the act of saying "please" becomes associated with that particular context where the toy is accessible, making it more likely that the child will use that prompt in the future.

In this framework, the discriminative stimulus directs and shapes behavior based on the history of reinforcement connected with that cue. Therefore, the ability to recognize and respond to these stimuli is crucial for effective behavior management and intervention strategies, especially in the context of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).