Final answer:
A primary reinforcer is something with innate reinforcing qualities, such as food, water, sex, or pleasure, which fulfill basic biological needs. These differ from secondary reinforcers like money, which have value through association with primary reinforcers.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Cooper, Heron, and Heward's principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a primary reinforcer is something that has innate reinforcing qualities. These are not learned or conditioned; they are natural. For example, food, water, shelter, and pleasure are all primary reinforcers because they fulfill basic biological needs and humans are innately driven by these needs. They are essential for survival and well-being, thus reinforcing behavior that secures these resources.
In contrast, a secondary reinforcer (also known as a conditioned reinforcer) has no inherent value and only becomes reinforcing through its association with primary reinforcers. For instance, money is a secondary reinforcer because it can be used to buy primary reinforcers like food and shelter, or other secondary reinforcers.
Understanding the distinction between primary and secondary reinforcers is crucial for implementing effective reinforcement strategies in various settings, from educational and clinical to everyday behavioral conditioning.