Final answer:
A stimulus that is associated with a primary reinforcer and thereby gains the ability to reinforce behavior is called a conditioned or secondary reinforcer. These are integral to the process of operant conditioning, where a neutral stimulus becomes reinforcing through association with a primary reinforcer.
Step-by-step explanation:
A stimulus that acquires reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer is called a conditioned reinforcer.
Conditioned reinforcers, also known as secondary reinforcers, are stimuli that have no inherent value and only become reinforcing after being associated with primary reinforcers. For instance, money is a secondary reinforcer because it has reinforcing qualities due to its ability to be exchanged for primary reinforcers like food, water, and shelter.
Operant conditioning, a form of learning wherein the stimulus/experience happens after the behavior is demonstrated, heavily employs such reinforcers. It's essential to differentiate between different types of reinforcers to fully understand the underlying mechanisms of operant conditioning and how behaviors are acquired or modified.