The word re-inforcer refers to any object, stimulus or event which strengthens the response which precedes it. In other words, anything that increase or decreases the probability of occurrence or non-occurrences of responses is called as reinforcer.
The process of delivering a reinforcer is called as reinforcement. It should be remembered that the reinforcer is contingent upon the instrumental response. In other word response results in occurrence of the reinforcer. There are different types of reinforcers as follows:
1. Positive Reinforcer:
A positive reinforcer is a stimulus or event which, when it follows a response, increase the likelihood that the response will be made again. Examples of positive reinforcers are food for a hungry animal, water for a thirsty one, praise from a parent, a prize, etc.
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2. Negative Reinforcer:
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A negative reinforcer is a stimulus or event when its cessation or termination is contingent upon a response, increases the likelihood that the response will occur again.
3. Primary Reinforcer:
Primary reinforcer is one that is effective for an untrained subject. It does not require any special previous training in order to strengthen behaviour. The first time a primary reinforcer is made contingent upon a response, it will begin to strengthen that response. For example, a food for a hungry organism and a water for a thirsty organism.
4. Secondary Reinforcer:
Secondary reinforcer, unlike the primary reinforcer, does not work naturally. For it to become effective the learner must have had experience with it. For this reason secondary reinforcers are called as learned or conditioned reinforcers or responses. Stimuli become secondary reinforcers in operant conditioning by being paired with the primary reinforcers.