AO1

• Token economies are based on the principles of operant conditioning and are an example of behaviour modification.
• Firstly, the therapist needs to identify the undesirable or maladaptive behaviour and thus what the desirable behaviours would be. Secondly, they would identify the reinforcers that maintain the undesirable behaviour and then they would restructure the environment so that the undesirable behaviour is no longer reinforced. Additionally, they would give a reward for desirable behaviours, also known as tokens. This would act as a secondary reinforcer. This can later be exchanged for a more tangible reward e.g., sweets or an activity, such as watching TV (primary reinforcers).
• This technique is useful for patients who have become institutionalised and have developed bad habits, like struggling to get dressed in the morning. It helps improve their quality of life whilst preparing them for their life outside of the hospital when they are released. It is not frequently used in the U.K. anymore, as many patients are cared for in the community, but it is still widely used in other areas of the world.
• Each patient is treated on an individual basis and target behaviours identified. The tokens should be given immediately after the target behaviour as if they are delayed this can reduce the effectiveness of the therapy. At the start of the programme both token and reward are given together so that the patient can associate the two and the token can become a secondary reinforcer.