4.1 Token Economy

• Token Economy?


  Using operant conditioning to change behaviour.

  Good behaviour (avoiding conflict, following prison rules) in prison results in awarding of tokens.

  Tokens can be saved up and exchanged for privileges (food, time in gym, phone time).

  Poor behaviour results in a loss of tokens.
• Token economy programme


  1. Staff trained to identify target behaviours

  2. Staff trained in recording behaviours

  3. Tokens awarded for behaviours

  4. Told what behaviours they could earn tokens for

  5. Told how many tokens they could earn
• Tokens


  Could be swapped immediately for sweets or saved and used for larger rewards at another time
• Where token economy programmes were introduced


  Significant increase in desired behaviours
• Desired behaviours before tokens introduced


  • 66%
  • 47%
  • 73%
• Desired behaviours after tokens introduced

  • 91%
  • 81%
  • 94%
• Why its not effective?


  While evidence does suggest token economies may improve offenders behaviour in prison, this may have no long term change in the individual and as such may not reduce recidivism when released.

  This may be because the rewards of offending are now present again and the rewards of good behaviour have stopped.
• Why it is not effective? - Copen & Flipczak (1971)


  demonstrated immediate improvements and reduction in recidivism after two years for individuals engaging in the programme, but by three years recidivism rates were the same as national average.
• Why is it not effective - unethical?


  some prisons in the USA have withheld food and drink as part of their behaviour modification which is a human right, not something to be earned.