Management

Question 1

What are token economies used for?

Answer 1

Used to manage behaviour, particularly used in psychiatric hospitals for schizophrenics (behaviour modification).

Question 2

Describe Ayllon and Azrin’s research into development of TE

Answer 2

Trialled TE in a ward of women with schizophrenia.
Eg. When making the bed, given one token. Tokens swapped for ward privileges eg. Watching a film.

Found number of tasks increased significantly.

Question 3

When were token economies the norm?

Answer 3

1960s-1970s

Declined in the UK as introduction of community based care and ethics

Question 4

What occurs under prolonged hospitalisation?

Answer 4

Institutionalisation: develop bad habits eg. Bad hygiene

Question 5

Describe Matson et al 3 categories of institutionalised behaviour.

Answer 5

Social behaviour
Condition related behaviour
Personal care

Question 6

TE does not cure but has 2 major benefits …

Answer 6

Improves quality of life in hospitals
Normalises behaviour making it easier to adapt back to community

Question 7

What is involved in TE?

Answer 7

When desirable behaviour done, token given out immediately
Target behaviours individually identified (cooper etal) having immediate reward more effective than delayed.

Question 8

What are TE based on?

Answer 8

Operant conditioning. Tokens are secondary enforcers as only have value when reward received.
Meaningful reward= primary enforcer.

2nd enforcer paired with 1st enforcer

Question 9

One strength is the effectiveness (AO3)

Answer 9

Identified 7 high quality studies (1999-2013) and examined effectiveness of TE for people with mental issues.
All studies showed reduction in negative symptoms and decline in frequency of unwanted behaviours.

Question 10

Counterpoint for the strength of TE (AO3)

Answer 10

7 studies = small sample to support effectiveness
File drawer problem= phenomena leads to a bias towards positive published findings as undesirable results filled away. Serious question over effectiveness.

Question 11

One limitation if ethical issues (AO3)

Answer 11

Involved imposing one persons or institutions norms onto another. Particularly bad when behaviours are socially sensitive.
Eg. Someone looks scruffy and gets up late may have personal freedoms curtailed. Restricting availability of pleasures.
Benefits of TE outweighed by limitations

Legal action of families -> decline in TE