What is another word for discriminative stimulus?
Pronunciation: [dɪskɹˈɪmɪnətˌɪv stˈɪmjʊləs] (IPA) 
A discriminative stimulus is a signal or cue that serves to differentiate between behaviors that will be reinforced or punished. The term can also be referred to as a discriminative cue, discriminative shock, or a discriminative operant. Other synonyms for the discriminative stimulus include discriminative antecedent, discriminative environmental stimulus, and discriminative signal. This stimulus is an essential element in operant conditioning and is necessary to promote appropriate behavior and learning. The way in which the discriminative stimulus is perceived can be affected by numerous factors such as the context of the situation, the intensity of the stimulus, and past experiences with the stimulus.
