Generic extension results in classifying things into groups or categories. For example, if a child has been taught to say “dog” in the presence of the family poodle and also in the presence of his or her uncle’s collie, any tendency to say “dog” in the presence of a new dog (e.g., a chihuahua) would be generic extension of the tact relationship.
An instance of verbal behavior with the following features:
The response form must be a previously learned one
The stimulus must be novel
The novel stimulus must have all of the relevant features of the stimulus that previously controlled the response
The type of elementary verbal relationship between the stimulus and the response
Formal and dynamic characteristics of the response
Formal or dynamic characteristics of the stimulus
Whether or not the current response is followed by reinforcement