What refers to the ability to transfer and apply skills across different situations?

The term that refers to the ability to transfer and apply skills across different situations is generalization. In the context of learning and behavior, generalization occurs when an individual learns a skill or behavior in one context and is then able to apply that skill or behavior in different circumstances or settings. This ability is crucial in educational and therapeutic environments, as it indicates that the learning is not merely rote but rather that the individual understands the underlying principles and can adapt their knowledge to new and varied situations.

For instance, if a person learns a social skill in a therapy group and can later use that skill in a different social interaction outside of the therapy environment, they have successfully generalized that skill. This concept is fundamental in both psychology and education, as it showcases the flexibility and applicability of learned behaviors.

The other terms listed refer to different concepts: discrimination involves the ability to distinguish between different stimuli or situations; reinforcement pertains to rewards or consequences that influence behavior; and conditioning relates to the process through which associations between stimuli and responses are learned. Each of these concepts plays a significant role in understanding behavior and learning but does not specifically capture the idea of transferring skills across varying contexts like generalization does.