Token economies

• Token economies

  • Behavioural treatments for schiz based of operant conditioning
  • Help encourage people in psychiatric institutions to perform socially desirable behaviours
• Ayllon and Azrin (token economy in pysch ward) - Method

  • 45 female patients received token for good behaviours
  • Exchange token for reward
  • Token taken for bizarre behaviour
  • Naturalistic observation
• Ayllon and Azrin (token economy in pysch ward) - Findings

  • Women institutionalised for average of 16 years and displayed bouts of screaming and aggression had massive improvement in behaviour
• Ayllon and Azrin (token economy in pysch ward) - Conclusion

  • Token economy can exert control over behaviour to give patients sense of dignity
• Ayllon and Azrin (token economy in pysch ward) - Evaluation

  • Ps were all women so can't be generalised
• Advantages of token economies

  • Produce significant improvements in behaviour
  • Work best within institutions
• Weaknesses of token economies

  • Lack ecological validity
  • Superficial behaviour changes
  • Ethical issues about use of CBT as it doesn't help patient but helps others