Token Economies

1
Token Economies
2
AO1

• Token economies use operant conditioning to
  reinforce good behaviour and discourage bad
  behaviour.
• It works using tokens that can be taken away for
  bad behaviour or given to the patient in reward
  for good behaviour. This works on the principal
  of secondary reinforcement as the tokens can be
  exchanged for a direct reward (primary
  reinforcer) eg money.
• The aim of token economies is to teach patients
  what is socially acceptable and desirable and to
  encourage them to act in this manner.
• Token economies are often used in
  insitutionalised settings, eg in a psychiatric
  ward or correctional facility, but may also be
  used in education, nursing homes, the military
  and in hospitals.
• Token economies require tokens (obviously!), a
  clear definition of desired behaviour, back up
  reinforcers (primary reinforcers that the
  patients can exchange their tokens for), a system
  for exchanging tokens (a defined time and place
  for exchange is necessary), a system for
  recording data and a constant implementation of
  the token economy by the staff.

3
AO2

• Everyday life is, in many ways, similar to token
  economies, as our everyday behaviour is shaped by
  reinforcers. We work hard and receive money
  tokens. When we are polite we are rewarded with a
  smile, when we are rude we are not. This means
  that in thoery, patients should be able to move
  from a token economy environment in an
  institution to being out in the real world
  without any significant problems.

4
AO2

• However, it could be argued that token economies
  are highly controlled and very different from
  real life. Token economies can lead to Token
  Learning where individuals will only display
  behaviour if directly rewarded with a token.
  Constant reward is unlikely to occur in everyday
  life.
• Baddeley (1997)
• Stated that this was unproductive as in
  environments outside the institution, individuals
  will need to respond to more subtle rewards than
  direct tokens, eg smiles or hugs.

5
AO2

• Token Economies do not claim to cure conditions,
  simply to improve the quality of life for the
  patients by teaching them more acceptable social
  skills and thus helping them adapt better to
  social situations. This allows them to
  re-establish themselves in society. It has been
  proven to increase self esteem and help patients
  to regain self control
• Ayllon and Azrin (1968) found that token
  economies were effective in both evoking and
  maintaining desirable behaviour. The
  effectiveness was measured by the amount of time
  the client spent engaging in socially desirable
  behaviour. This was found to be highest when
  reinforcement contingencies, rewards, were
  imposed and lowest when they were not. The study
  also concluded that the token economy had a
  positive effect on the morale of staff and
  patients. Staff became more enthusiastic about
  the patients and the techniques and the patients
  became more responsible and less apathetic.

6
AO2

• It is difficult to design token economies that
  are reflective of our society and that would be
  easily continued outside of the institution. In
  this way token economies cannot be entirely
  successful as the transition from the programme
  back to society is unlikely to be easy and may
  result in relapse.