A _______ reinforcer satisfies some biological need and works naturally, regardless of a person's prior experiences
A. negative
B. positive
C. secondary
D. primary
B
Primary reinforcers are biological. Food, drink, and pleasure are the principal examples of primary reinforcers.
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I agree with bobpursley except for one point. Some types of pleasure can be secondary reinforcement, for example, the pleasure you experience when receiving a sincere compliment.
To determine the correct option, we need to understand the concepts of reinforcers and their types.
Reinforcement is a concept in psychology that refers to the process of strengthening a behavior by providing a consequence that follows that behavior. Reinforcers can be categorized as positive or negative, and secondary or primary.
Positive reinforcement involves providing a pleasurable or rewarding stimulus following a behavior, which increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated. Conversely, negative reinforcement involves the removal or avoidance of an aversive stimulus, also increasing the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.
Secondary reinforcers are stimuli that acquire their reinforcing properties through association with primary reinforcers. They are learned and may vary across individuals and cultures. Examples of secondary reinforcers include money, praise, or social approval.
Primary reinforcers, on the other hand, satisfy biological needs and work naturally, regardless of a person's prior experiences. These reinforcers are inherently reinforcing and are not dependent on learning. Primary reinforcers include things like food, water, warmth, and sleep.
Based on this explanation, the correct option is D. Primary reinforcer. Primary reinforcers satisfy biological needs and are naturally reinforcing for individuals, regardless of their prior experiences.