token economy

• Behavior Modification: Token economy

  • Involves reinforcing desirable behavior with a token that can then be exchanged for some kind of reward
  • Tokens can then be exchanged for primary reinforcers that do have an inherent value to the offenders
  • Non-compliance or disobedience may result in tokens and the associated privileges being withheld or removed (a form of punishment)
• In prisons

  • Incentive may be job opportunity, or earn TV in room (time in the gym, possibility of parole for good behavior
• In court


  • Reduction in sentence if you plead guilty
• This is supposed to weaken the thought process of criminals wanting to commit criminal acts
• Effectiveness of Token economy

  • It's consistent and can be applied for multiple behaviors and a wide range of offenders
  • Allows you to reinforce behaviors for particularly difficult offenders
• • Weakness of Token economy: Not long-term - only works while inside prison
  • Reward can become more important than the target behavior