Secondary Reinforcer: Definition, Examples, and Uses

A secondary reinforcer is a stimulus that reinforces a behavior after it has been associated with a primary reinforcer. Primary reinforcers are stimuli which naturally motivate behavior. Essentially, this means that they are biologically significant, such as food, water, and sleep.

Secondary reinforcers, on the other hand, are stimuli that only have reinforcing properties because they have been paired with a primary reinforcer. For example, money is a secondary reinforcer because it can be exchanged for primary reinforcers, such as food and shelter.

Secondary Reinforcers in Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning uses reinforcement to increase the likelihood of behavior. There are two main types of reinforcers: primary reinforcers and secondary reinforcers.

Primary reinforcers are stimuli that innately motivate behavior. For example, food is a primary reinforcer because it satisfies the biological need for hunger.

Secondary reinforcers are stimuli that have no inherent reinforcing properties, but have been paired with primary reinforcers and as a result, elicit a response. For example, money is a common secondary reinforcer.

Secondary reinforcers are an important aspect of operant conditioning. They can be used to motivate behavior in the absence of a primary reinforcer. Without secondary reinforcers, operant conditioning would be much less effective.

Examples of Secondary Reinforcers

There are many different types of secondary reinforcers. Some common examples of secondary reinforcers include:

• Praise
• Attention
• Social approval
• Tokens
• Money
• Points
• Grades
• Trophies
• Rewards

Uses of Secondary Reinforcers

Secondary reinforcers can be used in a variety of settings to motivate behavior. Some common uses of secondary reinforcers include:

• In the classroom: Teachers use secondary reinforcers, such as praise, attention, and grades, to motivate students to learn and behave well.
• In the workplace: Employers use secondary reinforcers, such as money, promotions, and bonuses, to motivate employees to work hard and produce high-quality work.
• In therapy: Therapists use secondary reinforcers, such as praise, attention, and tokens, to help clients change their behavior and overcome problems.
• At home: Parents use secondary reinforcers, such as praise, attention, and rewards, to motivate their children to behave well and learn new skills.

Advantages of Using Secondary Reinforcers

Secondary reinforcers have a number of advantages over primary reinforcers. Some of the benefits of using secondary reinforcers include:

• They are more portable and convenient: Secondary reinforcers, such as tokens and points, can be easily carried around and used to reinforce behavior in a variety of settings.
• They are less likely to cause satiation: Secondary reinforcers, such as praise and attention, are less likely to cause satiation than primary reinforcers, such as food and water. This means that they can be used to reinforce behavior over a longer period of time.
• They can be used to reinforce a wider range of behaviors: Secondary reinforcers can be used to reinforce a wider range of behaviors than primary reinforcers. For example, secondary reinforcers can be used to reinforce behaviors that are not directly related to survival, such as studying for a test or completing a work assignment.

Conclusion

Secondary reinforcers are an important tool for motivating behavior. They can be used in a variety of settings to help people learn new skills, change their behavior, and overcome problems.