What distinguishes primary reinforcers from secondary reinforcers?

Primary reinforcers are distinguished by their ability to fulfill physiological needs. These reinforcers are inherently valuable and biologically necessary for survival, such as food, water, and shelter. Because they address basic drives and needs, they have a direct impact on behavior without requiring any learning or association. For example, if an individual is hungry, the availability of food will act as a primary reinforcer to motivate behavior aimed at obtaining food.

In contrast, secondary reinforcers, such as money or praise, gain their value through learned associations with primary reinforcers. Thus, while primary reinforcers provide immediate gratification and are crucial for survival, secondary reinforcers derive their power from the connection they have to those fundamental needs that primary reinforcers satisfy. This distinction is critical in understanding behavioral reinforcement in the context of learning and conditioning.