What are the two types of reinforcers?

The correct answer identifies the two types of reinforcers as primary and secondary. Primary reinforcers are those that fulfill a basic need, such as food, water, or shelter; they are inherently valuable because they satisfy biological drives. Secondary reinforcers, on the other hand, derive their significance from their association with primary reinforcers; they are learned or conditioned responses, such as money or praise, which gain their reinforcing properties through experience and association.

Understanding this distinction is essential in fields such as psychology and behavioral education, as it helps in developing effective strategies for motivation and behavior modification. Primary reinforcers address immediate, biological needs, while secondary reinforcers play a crucial role in more complex behavioral dynamics, influencing actions through learned associations.