Acquisition Stage

Definition

The acquisition stage refers to the initial phase of learning where an individual begins to understand and respond appropriately to new information or experiences.

Analogy

The acquisition stage can be likened to planting seeds in a garden. At first, there might not seem like much is happening but with consistent watering (practice), sunlight (exposure), and time (patience), the seeds will eventually sprout and grow (learning).

Related terms

Extinction: The disappearance of a previously learned behavior when the behavior is not reinforced.

Spontaneous Recovery: The reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response.

Generalization: The tendency to respond in the same way to different but similar stimuli.