token economy (formal)

• Strengths of the reward system

  • In the short term it works
  • Effective for both adults and young offenders
• Weaknesses of the reward system

  • In the long run it doesn't work as people are only behaving to get the reward and once they have it they won't keep behaving
• reward system used in prisons
• encourages good behaviour
• 1. Rewards them (positive reinforcement) with tokens (worthless themselves)
  2. They can exchange the tokens for something they like (positive reinforcement)
  3. This strengthens behaviour as they want to gain more tokens for desirable items. e.g. luxury foods
  4. Seeing others tokens and enjoying the positive reward could link to social leaning theory - vicarious reinforcement