Final answer:
The answer to the student's question is 'primary,' which refers to a reinforcer that satisfies basic, biological needs such as nourishment and affection, as opposed to secondary reinforcers which are not inherently rewarding and only gain value through their association with primary reinforcers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the student's question is A. primary. A primary reinforcer is any reward that satisfies a basic, biological need, such as hunger, thirst, or touch. These reinforcers meet our innate needs and are not learned; they are inherently rewarding. Primary reinforcers include basic survival needs like food and water, but also encompass pleasure and touch. The power of primary reinforcers lies in their ability to fulfill physical needs and provide pleasure, being essential for our survival and wellbeing.
In contrast, a secondary reinforcer gains its reinforcing properties through its association with a primary reinforcer. It does not satisfy biological needs directly. For example, money is a secondary reinforcer because it can be used to acquire primary reinforcers like food and shelter. To clarify further, positive reinforcement involves adding something to increase a behavior, whereas negative reinforcement involves taking something away to increase a behavior. Punishment, on the other hand, aims to decrease a behavior and can also be either positive (adding something undesirable) or negative (removing something desirable).