Final answer:
The correct answer to the question is b) Secondary reinforcer. This term describes a stimulus that gains reinforcing ability through its association with a primary reinforcer, such as food or water, rather than having intrinsic value.
Step-by-step explanation:
A stimulus that has acquired reinforcing power through association with a primary reinforcer is known as a secondary reinforcer. A secondary reinforcer, unlike a primary reinforcer, does not have intrinsic reinforcing properties but instead gains its reinforcing power through its connection with a primary reinforcer. For example, money is a secondary reinforcer because it only has value when it can be exchanged for primary reinforcers (such as food, water, or shelter) or for other secondary reinforcers.
It is important to distinguish between a secondary reinforcer and other types of stimuli and responses in the learning process. A neutral stimulus does not initially elicit a response in an organism until it is associated with an unconditioned stimulus, at which point it can become a conditioned stimulus in classical conditioning. When working with operant conditioning, we are often dealing with behaviors reinforced by consequences, and these reinforcers can be primary (innately reinforcing) or secondary (reinforcing via association).
Thus, the final answer is b) Secondary reinforcer. This is in contrast to primary reinforcers, which are innately reinforcing, such as food and water, and do not require any learning or association to be effective as reinforcers.
A secondary reinforcer is a type of stimulus that gains its reinforcing ability through its association with a primary reinforcer. This type of reinforcer is not innately reinforcing but becomes so through learning and association.