{"id":534,"date":"2023-03-03T19:13:09","date_gmt":"2023-03-03T19:13:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/8-3-4-learn-it-primary-and-secondary-reinforcers\/"},"modified":"2025-11-26T18:15:02","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T18:15:02","slug":"8-3-4-learn-it-primary-and-secondary-reinforcers","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontopsychology\/chapter\/8-3-4-learn-it-primary-and-secondary-reinforcers\/","title":{"raw":"Reinforcement: Learn It 2\u2014Primary and Secondary Reinforcers","rendered":"Reinforcement: Learn It 2\u2014Primary and Secondary Reinforcers"},"content":{"raw":"
\r\n

Primary and Secondary Reinforcers<\/h2>\r\n

Rewards such as stickers, praise, money, toys, and more can be used to reinforce learning. Let\u2019s go back to Skinner\u2019s rats again. How did the rats learn to press the lever in the Skinner box? They were rewarded with food each time they pressed the lever. For animals, food would be an obvious reinforcer.<\/p>\r\n

What would be a good reinforcer for humans? Maybe for a child, it would be the promise of a toy if they cleaned their room, a piece of candy for every desired behavior, or even a big high-five after a job well done.<\/p>\r\n

\r\n

primary reinforcer<\/h3>\r\n

Primary reinforcers have innate, biological value. They naturally satisfy basic needs and require no learning.<\/p>\r\n

Examples include:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  • \r\n

    Food and water<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t

  • \r\n

    Sleep and shelter<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t

  • \r\n

    Physical touch and warmth<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t

  • \r\n

    Sex<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t

  • \r\n

    Pain relief or physical comfort<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t

  • \r\n

    Pleasurable sensations<\/span>, such as jumping into a cool lake on a hot day<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    Because these reinforcers are tied to survival and basic drives, they remain powerful motivators across the lifespan\u2014for both animals and humans.<\/p>\r\n<\/section>\r\n

    \r\n

    secondary reinforcer<\/h3>\r\n

    Secondary reinforcers gain value only because they are associated with primary reinforcers. A $20 bill won\u2019t satisfy hunger by itself\u2014but its value comes from what it can purchase.
    \r\n
    \r\n<\/p>\r\n

    Examples include:<\/p>\r\n

      \r\n\t
    • \r\n

      Money<\/span>, which can be exchanged for food, shelter, entertainment, or status<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t

    • \r\n

      Praise and approval<\/span>, which often signal social belonging<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t

    • \r\n

      Grades or extra credit<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t

    • \r\n

      Stickers, points, or badges<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t

    • \r\n

      Privileges<\/span>, such as phone time or bonus minutes on a break<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n

      Secondary reinforcers are especially powerful in everyday learning environments. For example:<\/p>\r\n

        \r\n\t
      • A child might clean their room to earn a sticker.<\/li>\r\n\t
      • A college student might complete extra practice quizzes to earn participation points.<\/li>\r\n\t
      • A gamer might change their behavior to earn digital badges or streaks.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/section>\r\n

        Secondary reinforcers can be great motivators. Sometimes smaller secondary reinforcers can be earned to work up to larger reinforcers, like in a sticker chart situation where a child gets a new toy for every 10 stickers. Entire behavior management systems, known as <\/span>token economies<\/strong>, are built around the use of these kinds of token reinforcers.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

        \r\n
        For example, a study by Cangi and Daly (2013) found that use of a token economy increased appropriate social behaviors and reduced inappropriate behaviors in a group of schoolchildren with autism spectrum disorder. Children diagnosed with autism tend to exhibit disruptive behaviors such as pinching and hitting. When the children in the study exhibited appropriate behavior (not hitting or pinching), they received a \u201cquiet hands\u201d token. When they hit or pinched, they lost a token. The children could then exchange specified amounts of tokens for minutes of playtime.<\/section>\r\n
        \r\n
        \r\n
        [ohm2_question height=\"300\"]4228[\/ohm2_question]<\/section>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section>","rendered":"
        \n

        Primary and Secondary Reinforcers<\/h2>\n

        Rewards such as stickers, praise, money, toys, and more can be used to reinforce learning. Let\u2019s go back to Skinner\u2019s rats again. How did the rats learn to press the lever in the Skinner box? They were rewarded with food each time they pressed the lever. For animals, food would be an obvious reinforcer.<\/p>\n

        What would be a good reinforcer for humans? Maybe for a child, it would be the promise of a toy if they cleaned their room, a piece of candy for every desired behavior, or even a big high-five after a job well done.<\/p>\n

        \n

        primary reinforcer<\/h3>\n

        Primary reinforcers have innate, biological value. They naturally satisfy basic needs and require no learning.<\/p>\n

        Examples include:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • \n

          Food and water<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Sleep and shelter<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Physical touch and warmth<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Sex<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Pain relief or physical comfort<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Pleasurable sensations<\/span>, such as jumping into a cool lake on a hot day<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Because these reinforcers are tied to survival and basic drives, they remain powerful motivators across the lifespan\u2014for both animals and humans.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

          \n

          secondary reinforcer<\/h3>\n

          Secondary reinforcers gain value only because they are associated with primary reinforcers. A $20 bill won\u2019t satisfy hunger by itself\u2014but its value comes from what it can purchase.<\/p>\n

          Examples include:<\/p>\n

            \n
          • \n

            Money<\/span>, which can be exchanged for food, shelter, entertainment, or status<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            Praise and approval<\/span>, which often signal social belonging<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            Grades or extra credit<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            Stickers, points, or badges<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            Privileges<\/span>, such as phone time or bonus minutes on a break<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n

            Secondary reinforcers are especially powerful in everyday learning environments. For example:<\/p>\n

              \n
            • A child might clean their room to earn a sticker.<\/li>\n
            • A college student might complete extra practice quizzes to earn participation points.<\/li>\n
            • A gamer might change their behavior to earn digital badges or streaks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n

              Secondary reinforcers can be great motivators. Sometimes smaller secondary reinforcers can be earned to work up to larger reinforcers, like in a sticker chart situation where a child gets a new toy for every 10 stickers. Entire behavior management systems, known as <\/span>token economies<\/strong>, are built around the use of these kinds of token reinforcers.<\/span><\/p>\n

              \n
              For example, a study by Cangi and Daly (2013) found that use of a token economy increased appropriate social behaviors and reduced inappropriate behaviors in a group of schoolchildren with autism spectrum disorder. Children diagnosed with autism tend to exhibit disruptive behaviors such as pinching and hitting. When the children in the study exhibited appropriate behavior (not hitting or pinching), they received a \u201cquiet hands\u201d token. When they hit or pinched, they lost a token. The children could then exchange specified amounts of tokens for minutes of playtime.<\/section>\n
              \n
              \n