Token Economies

Question 1

What is token economy?

Answer 1

A form of therapy where desirable behaviours such as making a bed or showering are selectively reinforced in order to encourage the patient.
Rewards in the form of tokens are given when the individual engages in socially desirable behaviour.
Tokens act as secondary reinforcers which can be exchanged for primary reinforcers such as food or privileges.

Question 2

Why were token economies first set up?

Answer 2

Many people with schizophrenia spend long amounts of time in institutions where they can develop maladaptive behaviours such as failure to wash and care for themselves, so set up as a reward system to manage the behaviour of patients with schizophrenia

Question 3

What are the two main purposes of token economies ?

Answer 3

To improve patients quality of life within the hospital.
To assist the transition back into a society through normalising their behaviour

Question 4

How does the token economy work?

Answer 4

1. Tokens are provided with rewarding stimuli becoming secondary reinforcers.
2. Patient engages in desirable behaviours.
3. Patient is given tokens for engaging in such behaviours.
4. Patients trade tokens for access to privileges e.g. watching tv