What is a primary reinforcer?

A primary reinforcer is indeed a naturally occurring stimulus that satisfies a biological need. This kind of reinforcer has intrinsic value because it fulfills a basic requirement for survival or well-being, such as food, water, warmth, or shelter. Since these stimuli are essential for life, they do not require any prior learning or conditioning to have their reinforcing effects.

In contrast, other types of stimuli, such as secondary reinforcers, gain their value through association with primary reinforcers but do not hold any intrinsic value by themselves. For instance, money can serve as a secondary reinforcer because it can be used to obtain primary reinforcers like food or water. Understanding primary reinforcers is crucial in the context of conditioning, as they play a fundamental role in establishing behaviors and motivation.