---
title: "Secondary Reinforcer — AP Psychology Definition & Examples"
description: "A secondary reinforcer (money, praise, tokens) gets its power through learned association with primary reinforcers. Core to operant conditioning in Unit 3."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/secondary-reinforcer"
type: "key-term"
subject: "AP Psychology"
unit: "Unit 3"
---

# Secondary Reinforcer — AP Psychology Definition & Examples

## Definition

A secondary reinforcer is a stimulus, like money, praise, or tokens, that strengthens behavior because it has become associated with a primary reinforcer (something biologically satisfying like food). It's a core operant conditioning concept in AP Psychology Topic 3.8.

## What It Is

A secondary reinforcer is anything that increases a behavior because of *learned* association, not because it satisfies a biological need on its own. Money is the classic example. You can't eat a twenty-dollar bill, but it reinforces behavior because you've learned it buys things that do satisfy needs. Praise, grades, gold stars, video game points, and classroom tokens all work the same way.

Compare that to a [primary reinforcer](/ap-psych-revised/unit-3/8-operant-conditioning/study-guide/Xm5MTJSoAPDoVPrr "fv-autolink"), which is naturally reinforcing with no learning required (food, water, warmth, relief from [pain](/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/pain "fv-autolink")). The CED's essential knowledge for operant conditioning says reinforcers can be primary or secondary, and the distinction comes down to one question. Did the reinforcer have to *earn* its power through association, or was it reinforcing from birth? If it had to earn it, it's secondary. That's why secondary reinforcers are sometimes called conditioned reinforcers: their value is conditioned, not built in.

## Why It Matters

Secondary reinforcers live in **Topic 3.8 (Operant Conditioning)** within **[Unit 3](/ap-psych-revised/unit-3 "fv-autolink"): Development and Learning**, supporting learning objective **3.8.A**: explain how operant conditioning applies to behavior and [mental processes](/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/mental-processes "fv-autolink"). The primary/secondary distinction is named directly in the essential knowledge, so it's fair game on the exam.

This term also explains most of real life. Almost nothing that motivates you day to day is a primary reinforcer. Paychecks, GPAs, likes, and compliments are all secondary reinforcers, and the AP exam loves scenarios built on exactly that insight: a kid who works for candy (primary) starts working for praise (secondary), or a teacher builds a [token economy](/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/token-economy "fv-autolink") where points stand in for privileges. If you can spot the learned, stand-in reward in a scenario, you can answer these questions.

## Connections

### Primary reinforcer (Unit 3)

These two are defined against each other. A primary reinforcer satisfies a biological need automatically (food, water), while a secondary reinforcer only works because it's been linked to a primary one. Every secondary reinforcer traces its power back to a primary reinforcer somewhere up the chain.

### Classical conditioning (Unit 3)

Here's the neat part. A secondary reinforcer is basically [classical conditioning](/ap-psych-revised/unit-3/7-classical-conditioning/study-guide/rUUR1eUIEvLLDc8s "fv-autolink") happening inside operant conditioning. The neutral stimulus (a token, praise) gets paired with something naturally rewarding until it acquires value of its own, just like the bell paired with food. The two learning processes aren't separate boxes; they team up.

### Token economies (Unit 3)

A token economy is [secondary reinforcement](/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/secondary-reinforcement "fv-autolink") turned into a system. Points or tokens have zero value by themselves, but because they can be exchanged for privileges or treats, they reinforce behavior. AP questions about classroom point systems or hospital token programs are really asking whether you recognize secondary reinforcers at work.

### Partial reinforcement schedules (Unit 3)

Once a secondary reinforcer like money is established, it gets delivered on schedules. A paycheck every two weeks is a [fixed-interval schedule](/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/fixed-interval-schedule "fv-autolink") of a secondary reinforcer. Knowing what the reinforcer *is* (primary vs. secondary) and *when* it arrives (the schedule) are two separate questions the exam can ask about the same scenario.

## On the AP Exam

Secondary reinforcers show up almost exclusively in scenario-based multiple choice questions. The pattern is consistent. You get a short story and have to label the reinforcer. For example, a child who earned candy for homework now works diligently for praise, and you identify the praise as a secondary reinforcer. Or a teacher runs a token economy where points are exchanged for privileges, and you recognize the points as secondary reinforcers within an operant conditioning system. The trap answers usually mislabel the praise or tokens as primary reinforcers, or confuse reinforcement with punishment. On the AAQ or EBQ free-response questions, this term is useful vocabulary when explaining how a study or intervention shaped behavior using rewards that aren't biologically satisfying on their own. The skill is application, not recitation: identify *what* in the scenario is doing the reinforcing and *why* it has that power.

## secondary reinforcer vs Primary reinforcer

A primary reinforcer is innately satisfying because it meets a biological need. Food, water, warmth, and pain relief reinforce behavior with zero learning required. A secondary reinforcer has no built-in value and only works because it's been associated with a primary reinforcer. Quick test for any exam scenario: would a newborn (or a rat with no training) find this rewarding? Candy, yes, so it's primary. A gold star, a dollar, or the word 'great job,' no, so it's secondary.

## Key Takeaways

- A secondary reinforcer gains its reinforcing power through learned association with a primary reinforcer, not from satisfying a biological need directly.
- Money, praise, grades, and tokens are the go-to exam examples of secondary reinforcers because none of them are biologically satisfying on their own.
- The quick test on a multiple choice question is whether the reward would work without any learning; if it requires learning to be rewarding, it's secondary.
- Token economies are applied secondary reinforcement, where worthless tokens shape behavior because they can be exchanged for real rewards.
- Secondary reinforcers show how classical and operant conditioning connect, since the stimulus acquires value through pairing before it can reinforce behavior.
- This concept falls under learning objective 3.8.A in Unit 3, so expect it in scenario-based operant conditioning questions.

## FAQs

### What is a secondary reinforcer in AP Psychology?

A secondary reinforcer is a stimulus that strengthens behavior because it has been associated with a primary reinforcer, not because it satisfies a biological need itself. Money, praise, grades, and tokens are the standard examples in Topic 3.8 (Operant Conditioning).

### Is money a primary or secondary reinforcer?

Secondary. Money has no biological value by itself; you can't eat it or drink it. It reinforces behavior only because you've learned it can be exchanged for things that do meet needs, which is the textbook definition of a secondary reinforcer.

### What's the difference between a primary and secondary reinforcer?

A primary reinforcer is innately rewarding because it meets a biological need (food, water, warmth) with no learning required. A secondary reinforcer must acquire its value through association with a primary reinforcer, so praise or tokens only work after learning.

### Is praise a secondary reinforcer?

Yes. Praise isn't biologically satisfying on its own, but it becomes reinforcing through association with things like attention, approval, and tangible rewards. A classic exam scenario has a child shift from working for candy (primary) to working for praise (secondary).

### Is a secondary reinforcer the same as negative reinforcement?

No, these are different distinctions. Primary versus secondary describes *where the reinforcer's value comes from* (innate versus learned), while positive versus negative describes *whether something is added or removed*. A secondary reinforcer like money is usually delivered as positive reinforcement.

## Related Study Guides

- [3.8 Operant Conditioning](/ap-psych-revised/unit-3/8-operant-conditioning/study-guide/Xm5MTJSoAPDoVPrr)

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