AP Psychology Practice Test

What characterizes a conditioned (or secondary) reinforcer?

1. It is associated with a primary reinforcer to gain its reinforcing power

2. It satisfies a biological need innately

3. It reinforces every instance of the desired response

4. It decreases the frequency of the behavior it follows

The correct answer is: It is associated with a primary reinforcer to gain its reinforcing power

A conditioned (or secondary) reinforcer is characterized by its ability to acquire reinforcing qualities through its association with primary reinforcers. Primary reinforcers are inherently valuable and typically satisfy biological needs, such as food, water, and shelter. Conditioned reinforcers, on the other hand, do not have intrinsic value themselves; instead, they gain their power through learned associations with these primary reinforcers. For example, money is a common conditioned reinforcer because it can be exchanged for primary reinforcers like food and shelter. Over time, individuals learn to respond positively to conditioned stimuli because they are linked with primary rewards, thus reinforcing certain behaviors. The other options do not accurately capture the nature of conditioned reinforcers. The option related to satisfying biological needs describes primary reinforcers, while the one about reinforcing every instance refers to continuous reinforcement schedules, which is not a defining characteristic of conditioned reinforcers. Lastly, the option mentioning decreasing the frequency of behavior aligns more closely with punishment rather than reinforcement. Therefore, the correct identification of a conditioned reinforcer is its relationship and learning process associated with primary reinforcers.