evaluation of token economy

• research shows token economy are effective in changing behaviour

  • COHEN and FILIPCZAK found that token economy group displayed more desirable behaviors than a control group in an adult prison
• an issue with token economy is that the behaviors that are rewarded maybe more beneficial to the prison staff than offering any meaningful rehabilitation that would be useful outside of the prison setting
• the technique is controversial as you have to deprive prisoners of privileges at the start of program so as to motivate to work for tokens.