Schizophrenia Token Economies 16m Flashcards
A01 - What Is A Token Economy
A token economy is based on behaviourist principles and are frequently used in hopsitals / institutions.
It uses operant and classical conditioning.
A01 - How Is Operant Conditioning Used In Token Economies
Operant conditioning is used by making a patient carry out a desirable positive behaviour.
Every time this behaviour is carried out they are rewarded with a token.
Token can then be exchanged for a reward such as a chocolate or extra tv time.
Positively reinforcing the patient and motivating them to carry out more desirable behaviour.
A01 - How Is Classical Conditioning Used In Token Economies
Classical conditioning is used so that the patient learns to associate a token with a reward.
Token is first NS then through repeated association with the reward this token becomes a conditioned stimulus therefore the patient develops a conditioned response to the token.
A03 - What Did Dickerson et al Do?
Dickerson et al reviewed 13 studies in which researchers encouraged patients to carry out positive behaviours.
11/13 patients behaviour improved after the hospitals implemented token economies.
Token economies were particularly effective in use with CBT / family therapy and antipsychotics.
He helped manage patients behaviour.
A03 - What Did The Lack Of Control Group Cause In Studies Of Token Economies?
As studies used token economies on all schizophrenic patients there was no control group.
This decreases validity as even if the nurses saw an improvement in behaviour after token economies, a cause and effect relationship wasnt found suggessting they werent 100% sure.
A03 - Why Couldnt Token Economies Be Used Outside A Hospital Setting?
Token economies were not useful outside a hospital setting as if the patient was not immedietaly rewarded for a positive behaviour an association may not be made.
This implies behaviour needs to be monitored all the time which is not easy to do outside of the hospital setting by families or therapists.
A03 - Ethical Issues With Token Economy
Token economies can make adult patients feel like children which can feel humiliating and cause distress.
This is very negative for the patient as symptoms can become worse.
A03 - What Happens If A Patient Becomes Too Dependent On Receiving Rewards
A patient may become too dependent on receiving rewards.
This means they will only ever do a positive behaviour if a reward is present.
Outside of the hospital setting it is likely that the patient wont be rewarded therefore could lead to an end to postive behaviours from the patient.
