What is the main function of conditioned reinforcers?

The main function of conditioned reinforcers is to gain reinforcing power through association with primary reinforcers. Conditioned reinforcers, also known as secondary reinforcers, do not have inherent value but acquire their reinforcing properties by being paired with primary reinforcers, such as food or water, which fulfill basic needs and are naturally reinforcing.

For instance, if a child receives praise (a conditioned reinforcer) whenever they complete their homework (a behavior), the praise becomes reinforcing because it has been associated with the satisfaction of successfully completing a task. Over time, this association strengthens the child’s motivation to engage in the behavior of completing homework, making conditioned reinforcers vital in behavior modification and learning environments.

The other choices do not accurately capture the essence of how conditioned reinforcers function in behavior analysis. Immediate physical satisfaction pertains to primary reinforcers, while the creation of new behaviors through conditioned reinforcers typically requires prior learning and association rather than occurring without it. Using reinforcers to decrease the likelihood of undesirable behavior is related to punishment or extinction strategies rather than the function of positive reinforcement through conditioned reinforcers.