Token Economies Flashcards
Who were the first to develop Token Economies and who was it developed for?
Teodoro Ayllon and Nathan Azrin developed token economies for hospitalized patients with chronic psychiatric disorders in 1961
What is a ‘Token’
A token is a tangible symbol that can be given immediately after a behaviour and later exchanged for a known reinforcer (backup reinforcers)
What is the goal of a ‘token’
To make a connection between the token and a certain desired behaviour. It becomes a conditioned reinforcer that strengthens the desired behaviour
True or False: token economies are directed at groups of people and not individuals
True, they only work in changing the behaviour of groups of people and a number of target behaviours
What is required when setting up a token economy?
- Choosing an item for ‘tokens’
- ‘Store’ where they can ‘cash in’ their tokens
- staff to administer the program
- Choose back up reinforcers (variety)
- decide on response costs/fines for undesired behaviours
- decide on an exchange rate
Explain some guidelines for administering tokens
- Know the target behaviour and exchange rates
- deliver the tokens immediately following a desired behaviour
- deliver natural reinforcers
- maintain accurate records of points
When should phasing out of the token economy take place?
Can be started when the client is consistently successful in the program, and where the behaviour can be maintained by natural reinforcers (which allows the be)
When phasing out of a token economy takes place, what should happen?
Thin the schedule of reinforcement
- decrease the number of tokens earned by a behaviour
- decrease the number of behaviours that are eligible for tokens
- increase the number of tokens required to exchange for back up reinforcers
When phasing out a token economy, is ‘Fading’ applied?
Yes, delay reinforcement is used–> increase the time between receiving tokens and opportunities for redeeming them for back up reinforcers, and replace programmed reinforcers with natural reinforcers
When was the first token economy used in a real life situation?
Token economy was first used (except it was called a marked system) on the Norfolk Island penal colony, which was one of the worst penal colonies (located off of Australia). Capt. Alexander Maconochie of the Royal british Navy instituted a ‘Marked System’ for inmates. They would earn points for preforming appropriate tasks and social behaviours, depending on the severity of their sentence, they would earn points for their release (AM thought he could reform them)–> it was successful but AM’s superiors did not approve so he was sent back to England
What are some benefits to token economies?
- Is it an effective way in changing problem behaviours
- gains from TE show greater maintenance than other procedures
- TE can help people develop real like skills
What are some problems with token economies?
- Gains may be lost after person leaves the TE
- Its very expensive to set up and maintain a TE
- criticized as demeaning/dehumanizing
