AO1

• What is token economy

  -form of behavioural therapy(based on Skinner’s operant conditioning) where target behaviours are set up that will improve patient’s engagement
• The basic idea behind token economies is that desirable behaviour

  -becomes associated with the rewards/privileges and over time, the desired behaviour become part of the individuals pattern of behaviour.
• At the start of token economy, you need to give the token a

  -‘value’ and it needs to be repeatedly presented with or before the reinforcing stimulus (the reward such as watching TV)

  -By pairing the neutral token with the reinforcing stimulus, the token acquires the same reinforcing qualities as the reward.

  -The tokens become secondary reinforcers.
• When patients perform a desirable behaviour and they are rewarded

  -the token is referred to as a generalised reinforcer.

  - The more items (rewards) a token can be exchanged for the more powerful the token becomes
• During the early stages of the programme frequent

  - exchange opportunities means that patients can be reinforced quickly, and this increases the change of behaviours.
• The effectiveness of token economy

  -may decrease if more time passes between the gaining of and the exchange of the tokens for the reinforcers