What is a secondary reinforcer?

A secondary reinforcer is indeed defined as a stimulus that has gained its reinforcing properties through its association with primary reinforcers. Primary reinforcers are inherently valuable; they satisfy basic biological needs such as food, water, and shelter. In contrast, secondary reinforcers, like money, praise, or tokens, acquire their value not from their intrinsic properties but through learned associations with these primary reinforcers. For example, money can be used to purchase food, which is a primary reinforcer, thereby giving the money its value as a secondary reinforcer.

This distinction highlights the process of learning and conditioning, where individuals learn to respond to certain stimuli based on their previous experiences and the rewards they have received in relation to those stimuli. Understanding secondary reinforcers is crucial in the study of behavior modification and reinforcement strategies, as they help shape behaviors in contexts where primary reinforcers may not be practical or available.