Token Economy (behavioural) Flashcards
What type of behavioural learning is token economy based off?
operant conditioning (Skinner)
What does this theory suggest about schizophrenic individuals?
- sz occurs via maladaptive learning
- best treatment involves new form of learning using reconditioning and operant conditioning
How does token economy work?
- patients change their unwanted behaviour into more desirable behaviours
- often used with drug therapy
- sz patients rewarded for not displaying any strange or unusual behaviour
- tokens must be given immediately after desired behaviour is displayed
- tokens can later be exchanged for privileges
- not a treatment, only manages behaviour
Evaluate token economy.
(+) flexible treatment for managing sz. Accounts for individual differences.
(-) no ecological validity, can’t be applied to the real world which has no rewards
(-) doesn’t treat sz, only manages some symptoms. Ignores other cognitive symptoms
(-) ethical issues - viewed as manipulating patients. And some can’t give fully formed consent.
(-) often used with drugs - may not be effective alone.
What study did Ayllon and Azrin (1968) conduct?
- 45F sz patients who were hospitalised for 16yrs were studied
- rewarded with plastic tokens when they made their bed / combed their hair
- tokens exchanged for pleasant activities (watching a movie)
What were the results from Ayllon and Azrin (1968)’s study?
- token economy was very successful
- number of chores performed everyday increased from 5 to 40
- schizophrenic symptoms reduced
Evaluate Ayllon and Azrin’s study.
(+) no side effects and few ethical issues unlike drug therapy.
(+) Dickerson (2005) reviewed 13 studies that used token economy. 11 showed it to be useful and increased adaptive behaviour. Beneficial and effective outcomes were noted, esp when combined with drugs
(-) only used female participants so can’t be generalised to male population
