What is true about secondary reinforcers?

Secondary reinforcers are stimuli that gain their reinforcing properties through association with primary reinforcers, which are inherently valuable and satisfying for a biological need, such as food or water. This means that secondary reinforcers, which can include things like money, praise, or tokens, become effective only after they have been linked to these primary reinforcers.

The importance of pairing secondary reinforcers with primary ones lies in their ability to motivate and reinforce behavior in a way that helps shape learning. For example, if a child receives praise (a secondary reinforcer) after completing their homework (a behavior), the association formed can encourage the child to continue doing homework in the future as they start to recognize that praise is linked to the completion of that task.

Understanding this concept is crucial for applications in behavior modification, education, and conditioning, as it illustrates how various types of reinforcement can work together to strengthen desired behaviors.