Which type of reinforcer is paired with prior learning?

The correct answer is conditioned reinforcer. A conditioned reinforcer is a stimulus that gains its reinforcing properties through its association with a primary reinforcer or through other learned experiences. For example, money becomes a conditioned reinforcer because it can be exchanged for primary reinforcers such as food, water, or shelter.

Conditioning occurs when an individual learns to associate the previously neutral stimulus with a reward over time, which means that the person has undergone prior learning experiences that connect the two. This learning process allows the conditioned reinforcer to be effective in influencing behavior by providing a form of reinforcement even in the absence of the primary reinforcer.

In distinction, an unconditioned reinforcer is inherently rewarding (like food or water) and does not require prior learning to be effective. Both primary and secondary reinforcers are terms often used interchangeably with unconditioned and conditioned reinforcers, respectively, but the emphasis on prior learning is what specifically highlights why the correct answer pertains to conditioned reinforcers.