Question

Sampson is a dolphin trainer who trains his dolphins to perform tasks by blowing a high-pitched whistle immediately after the dolphins do the task. The dolphins enjoy the sound of the whistle because it previously was paired with the fish they were given to eat. Based on this, you know that Sampson is using the whistle as a ________ reinforcer to train the dolphins.

Answer 1

Based on this, you know that Sampson is using the whistle as a secondary reinforcer to train the dolphins.

Step-by-step explanation:

Secondary Reinforcement can be described as a condition in which a stimulus initiates a behavior after being previously associated with a primary reinforcer. A secondary reinforcement is a stimulus that satisfies basic survival instinct such as food, drinks, and clothing.

The same phenomenon was being used by Samson to train his dolphins to perform tasks. The dolphins enjoyed the sound of the whistle because previously that sound was paired to them getting their food.