What psychological phenomenon occurs when a child develops a fear of all black furry objects after being scared by a specific black furry cat?

The phenomenon described in the question is known as stimulus generalization. This occurs when a learned response to a specific stimulus is triggered by similar stimuli. In this case, the child initially developed a fear response to a particular black furry cat. However, this fear has generalized to encompass all black furry objects, not just the specific cat that caused the initial fear.

Stimulus generalization demonstrates how conditioned responses can extend beyond the original stimulus to other stimuli that share similar characteristics, leading to a broader scope of fear in this situation. This concept is significant in understanding how fears and phobias can develop and be maintained, particularly in children who may not differentiate between similar stimuli due to their limited experiences.

Other choices, such as stimulus differentiation, classical conditioning, and operant conditioning, refer to different processes in learning and behavior. Stimulus differentiation involves learning to respond differently to various stimuli, while classical conditioning focuses on the process of learning through association. Operant conditioning is about learning through consequences, such as rewards or punishments, rather than through the association between stimuli.