Secondary reinforcer is also known as what?

• A. Discriminative Stimulus
• B. Primary Reinforcer
• C. Conditioned Reinforcer
• D. Unconditioned Stimulus

Answer: (C)

A secondary reinforcer is something that has gained its reinforcing value through its association with a primary reinforcer. It doesn’t satisfy a biological need by itself, but signals that a primary reinforcer is available, so the dog is more likely to repeat the behavior. For example, a clicker or praise becomes rewarding because it’s paired with food or other needs. Money or simply a toy can also act as secondary reinforcers because they can be exchanged for primary reinforcers. In contrast, a discriminative stimulus is just a cue that reinforcement is available, a primary reinforcer directly satisfies a biological need, and an unconditioned stimulus is an automatic, unlearned trigger that elicits a response.