AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -A key concept in operant conditioning is a primary reinforcer, which is a stimulus that leads to some type of natural or automatic response. It is related to the concept of unconditioned stimulus, or a stimulus that influences behavior without the need for learning or training.

Detailed explanation-2: -Primary reinforcers are reinforcers that have innate reinforcing qualities. These kinds of reinforcers are not learned. Water, food, sleep, shelter, sex, and touch, among others, are primary reinforcers. Pleasure is also a primary reinforcer. Organisms do not lose their drive for these things.

Detailed explanation-3: -While a primary reinforcer is innate, a secondary reinforcer is a stimulus that becomes reinforcing after being paired with a primary reinforcer, such as praise, treats, or money. Responding to the secondary reinforcer is a learned behavior, not a born reflex.

Detailed explanation-4: -Food is a Primary Reinforcer: that needs no previous experience to be reinforcing; such as food, security, using instinctive behaviours. In normal circumstances food, or treats, are probably considered the easiest to use, but the misuse opens many problems.

Detailed explanation-5: -Food, then, is a primary reinforcer, as it inspires eating, an innate response to that stimulus. Secondary reinforcers are learned, or conditioned, reinforcers. Secondary reinforcers begin as neutral stimuli, but become conditioned when paired with primary reinforcers linked to basic rewards.