Token Economy Describe

Question 1

What are token economy programmes a form of?

Answer 1

Behaviour modification

Question 2

What is token economy based on?

Answer 2

It is based on the principles of operant conditioning; specifically reinforcement.

Question 3

Where is token economy generally used?

Answer 3

In prisons

Question 4

What does token economy encourage?

Answer 4

pro-social behaviour

Question 5

What does token economy involve?

Answer 5

awarding tokens to offenders if a desired behaviour is performed

Question 6

What can offenders do with tokens?

Answer 6

The tokens may then be exchanged for various rewards.

Question 7

What is the aim of awarding tokens?

Answer 7

To cause that desired behaviour to be repeated.

Question 8

When do offended receive tokens?

Answer 8

When they carry out a pro-social, desired behaviour.

Question 9

What are the tokens an example of?

Answer 9

The tokens are secondary reinforcers and are collected and later exchanged for a meaningful object or privileges such as phone cards, cigarettes or extra visiting privileges.

Question 10

How are offenders make aware of what behaviorus will be awarded with tokens?

Answer 10

Desirable and undesirable behaviour (target behaviours) are explained by the prison staff and the number of tokens awarded or lost for each target behaviour is also specified

Question 11

What does the success of token economy depend on?

Answer 11

The success of a token economy depends on the appeal of the primary reinforcers. Offenders will only be motivated to earn tokens if they anticipate the future reward represented by the tokens

Question 12

What will a well designed token economy use?

Answer 12

A well-designed token economy will use primary reinforcers chosen by the offenders in treatment rather than by the prison staff.

Question 13

How is the token value of each primary reinforcer determined?

Answer 13

It is pre-determined based on monetary value, demand, or therapeutic value. For example, if the reinforcer is expensive or highly attractive, the token value should be higher

Question 14

What happens if the token value for a primary reinforcer is set too low?

Answer 14

If the token value is set too low, offenders will be less motivated to earn tokens.

Question 15

What happens if the token value for a primary reinforcer is set too high?

Answer 15

If the value is set too high, offenders may become easily discouraged.

Question 16

What happens before treatment begins?

Answer 16

Information (baseline data) is gathered about each offender’s current behaviour.

Question 17

After baseline data is collected, what is then recorded daily?

Answer 17

Changes in behaviour are then recorded on daily data sheets by the prison staff

Question 18

What is the baseline data and changes in behaviour used for?

Answer 18

Gathering of this data is used to measure an individuals progress, how effective the programme is and whether token values need to be altered.

Question 19

How are the awarded tokens decreased?

Answer 19

Initially tokens are awarded frequently and in higher amounts, but as offenders learn the desirable behaviour, opportunities to earn tokens decrease

Question 20

What is this gradual decreasing of tokens called?

Answer 20

fading

Question 21

How does fading help?

Answer 21

By gradually decreasing the availability of tokens (fading), offenders should learn to display the desirable behaviour independently, without the unnatural use of tokens

Question 22

What aids the fading process?

Answer 22

Reinforcers that offenders would normally encounter in society, such as verbal praise.

Question 23

What must happen in order for a token economy programme to succeed?

Answer 23

Reinforcers that offenders would normally encounter in society, such as verbal praise, should accompany the awarding of tokens to aid in the fading process.