Psychological treatments: Token economies

Question 1

What are token economies ?

Answer 1

• works on the principles of operant conditioning
• rewarding patients within an institution
• used for patients who have developed maladaptive behaviours
• patients can be given plans that are specific and individual to them

Question 2

How do token economies work ?

Answer 2

• clinician sets clearly defined targets for everyday behaviour (e.g. washing)
• when the patient performs the desired behaviour they get a token
• these tokens get exchanged for rewards (e.g. sweets, time outside)
• Reward = primary reinforcer (what the patient wants to receive)
• Token = secondary reinforcer (they only gain their value by association with the desirable rewards)

Question 3

Is a token a primary or secondary reinforcer ?

Answer 3

Secondary reinforcer

Question 4

Is a reward a primary or secondary reinforcer ?

Answer 4

Primary

Question 5

What are strengths of token economies ?

Answer 5

Effectiveness =
- Glowacki
- looked at 7 high-quality studies where token economies were used to manage sz
- all studies showed a reduction in negative symptoms

Question 6

What are some limitations of token economies ?

Answer 6

Alternatives =
- CBT and drug therapy
- tackles the actual symptoms
- whereas token economies just prevents them from happening short-term
- token economies aren’t a long term solution in comparison to drug therapies

Practicality =
- time consuming
- individualised plans are expensive (both time and money)
- also includes keeping someone in one place which takes a lot of time out of their life