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A primary reinforcer is an event for which the individual already knows the value. Food, shelter, and water are primary reinforcers. However, primary reinforcers don’t always act as reinforcers, given a particular situation. For example, food may not be a reinforcer to someone who has just completed a five-course meal.
In organizations, secondary reinforcers influence most behaviors. A secondary reinforcer is an event that once had neutral value but has taken on some value (positive or negative) for an individual because of past experience. Money is an obvious example of a secondary reinforcer. Although it can’t directly satisfy a basic human need, money has value because an individual can use it to purchase both necessities and discretionary items.
Negative reinforcement occurs when an unpleasant event is removed contingent upon the correct behavior. Punishment occurs when an unpleasant event is presented after the behavior occurs. Negative reinforcement and punishment are often confused because they both use unpleasant events to influence behavior. An easy way to differentiate between them is to note what happens to the probability of the behavior after the occurrence of the consequence.
In organizations, secondary reinforcers influence most behaviors. A secondary reinforcer is an event that once had neutral value but has taken on some value (positive or negative) for an individual because of past experience. Money is an obvious example of a secondary reinforcer. Although it can’t directly satisfy a basic human need, money has value because an individual can use it to purchase both necessities and discretionary items.
Negative reinforcement occurs when an unpleasant event is removed contingent upon the correct behavior. Punishment occurs when an unpleasant event is presented after the behavior occurs. Negative reinforcement and punishment are often confused because they both use unpleasant events to influence behavior. An easy way to differentiate between them is to note what happens to the probability of the behavior after the occurrence of the consequence.
Negative reinforcement increases the probability of a correct behavior, while punishment decreases the probability of an incorrect behavior.
