reinforcer (redirected from second-order reinforcer)

re·in·forc·er  (rn-fôrsr, -fr-)

n. Psychology

A stimulus, such as a reward, the removal of an unpleasant event, or a punishment, that in operant conditioning maintains or strengthens a desired response.

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Noun

1.

reinforcer - (psychology) a stimulus that strengthens or weakens the behavior that produced it reinforcing stimulus, reinforcement stimulant, stimulus, stimulation, input - any stimulating information or event; acts to arouse action positive reinforcer, positive reinforcing stimulus - a reinforcing stimulus that serves to increase the likelihood of the response that produces it negative reinforcer, negative reinforcing stimulus - a reinforcing stimulus whose removal serves to decrease the likelihood of the response that produced it psychological science, psychology - the science of mental life