Summary of Reinforcers and Conditioning Principles

Positive reinforcers classified as primary or secondary.
Primary Reinforcer: Innately satisfying; requires no learning (e.g. food, water, sexual satisfaction).
Secondary Reinforcer: Acquires positive value through experience; learned or conditioned (e.g. grades, paychecks).
Token economies utilize secondary reinforcers: behaviors rewarded with tokens that can be exchanged for desired rewards.

Key concepts in operant conditioning, alongside classical conditioning.
Generalization: Performing a reinforced behavior in different situations.
- Example: Pigeons reinforced for pecking at a specific color disk also peck at similar colors.
- In humans: Applying study habits from one subject to others shows generalization.