Token economy Flashcards
(13 cards)
Are token economies a treatment for SZ?
No, they only manage maladaptive behaviours and don’t allieviate symptoms
What kind of approach are token economies?
Token economies are a behaviourist approach to manage the behaviour of patients with schizophrenia
What kind of patients are token economies used on?
It is mainly used on patients who have spent a long time in hospital and therefore have developed maladaptive behaviours such as bad hygiene or lack of communication to others
What is the aim of token economies?
The aim of token economies is to change a patients behaviour so that they are easier to manage, will have a better quality of life and thus enabling them to live outside of a hospital setting
How do token economies work?
The technique uses Skinner’s operant conditioning principles of positive reinforcement, whereby patients recieve reinforcements in the form of tokens.
When do patients recieve the tokens?
Immediately after the desired behaviour is produced such as self care or social interaction
What kind of token can the patients recieve?
Coloured discs
What can the tokens later be exchanged for?
They can later be exchanged for goods of privileges such as hours watching TV, magazines, a walk outside or sweets
What is the secondary reinforcer?
The token
What is the primary reinforcer?
Going out for the day
What do the patients learn to associate?
The patients learn to associate the tokens with meaningful rewards such as going for a walk, sweets or watching a film (primary reinforcers)
What needs to be done for the tokens to become secondary reinforcers?
For the tokens to become secondary reinforcers, they need to be paired with the primary reinforcers
What needs to happen at the start of the token economy programme?
The tokens and primary reinforcers are administered together
