Maintenance of behaviour by secondary reinforcement

Abstract

Summary Stimuli acquire secondary reinforcing properties by association with primary reinforcement. That is, they act as signals (discriminitive stimuli) that primary reinforcement is forthcoming. When behaviour (R1) is maintained on the basis of secondary reinforcement further behaviour (R2) is also normally necessary—that which acquires primary reinforcement and maintains the primary-secondary association. The question is raised as to whether behaviour is better controlled when secondary reinforcement is quickly acquired but then much work is required for primary reinforcement in its presence, or when much work is required for secondary reinforcement which is then quickly followed by primary reinforcement. The performances of four albino rats reinforced on various chain FRFR schedules favour the first alternative.