token economy ao1

Question 1

what is the token economy?
- a type of approach

Answer 1

• behaviourist approach
• where tokens are rewarded for demonstrations of desired behavioural change

Question 2

what is the token economy used with?

Answer 2

• used with long term hospitalised patients to enable them to leave hospital and live relatively independently within the community

Question 3

what are token economies aimed at changing?

Answer 3

• aimed at changing negative symptoms
• e.g. low motivation, poor attention, social withdrawal

Question 4

the token economy cycle

Answer 4

• uses operant conditioning
• patients receive reinforcements (tokens) immediately after producing a desired behaviour
• tokens can be exchanged for goods or privileges e.g. sweets, cigarettes
• reward = primary reinforcer and the token = secondary reinforcer