The answer is primary reinforcement as to secondary
reinforcement. Primary reinforcers are biological. Principal examples are food,
beverage, and desire. But, most human reinforcers are secondary, or
conditioned. Examples comprise money, grades in schools, and tokens. Secondary reinforcers acquire their power through a history
of link with primary reinforcers or other secondary reinforcers. For instance,
if I said to you that dollars were no longer accepted to be used as cash, then
dollars would miss their control as a secondary reinforcer.
