What is a primary reinforcer?

A primary reinforcer is defined as a naturally occurring stimulus that satisfies a biological need. This means that primary reinforcers are inherently valuable to an organism because they fulfill essential physiological requirements for survival and well-being. Examples of primary reinforcers include food, water, warmth, and sex, as these directly satisfy basic human or animal needs.

The importance of primary reinforcers lies in their immediate and unconditioned effect on behavior. When an individual receives a primary reinforcer, it leads to an increase in the likelihood of a specific behavior being repeated in the future. This contrasts with stimuli that require learning to acquire their reinforcing properties, which are known as secondary reinforcers. Understanding primary reinforcers is crucial in the field of behavioral psychology, especially in designing effective reinforcement strategies for behavior modification.