In conditioning, a pleasant or satisfaction-yielding (positive r.) or painful or unsatisfying (negative r.), stimulus, object, or stimulus event that is obtained upon the performance of a desired or predetermined operant. SEE ALSO: reinforcement (3). SYN: reward.
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re·in·forc·er -'fōr-sər, -'fȯr- n a stimulus (as a reward or removal of an electric shock) that increases the probability of a desired response in operant conditioning by being applied or removed following the desired response
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re·in·forc·er (re″in-forґsər) any stimulus that produces reinforcement.Medical dictionary. 2011.