Which principle states that a higher-probability behavior can reinforce a lower-probability behavior?

• A. Classical Conditioning
• B. Acquisition
• C. Salience
• D. Premack Principle

Answer: (D)

The Premack Principle says that a behavior the dog is more likely to perform in a given moment can reinforce a behavior it is less likely to perform. In training, you use a preferred activity as a reward for a less preferred one. For example, you can require the dog to perform a low-probability behavior like a stay or a sit, and then let them access a highly preferred activity such as running to a favorite toy or getting a game of fetch. The idea is that the opportunity to engage in the high-probability behavior serves as motivation to perform the lower-probability behavior.

This isn’t about pairing stimuli to create a new response (that would be Classical Conditioning), nor is it about the process of learning itself (Acquisition). It also isn’t about how noticeable or attention-grabbing a cue is (Salience). The key is using what the dog is most inclined to do as a motivator to get them to do something they’re less inclined to do.