token economies

• token economies - when offenders are systematically rewarded with tokens for predefined desired target behaviours and bad behaviour means the tokens will be taken away
• tokens are secondary reinforcers
• tokens are exchanged for primary reinforcers
• primary reinforcers can be chocolate or large rewards
• taking tokens away for bad behaviour is negative punishment which is the removal of a stimulus to decrease unwanted behaviour
• HOBBS AND HOLT 


  developed token economy system for young offenders at residential school for males
• HOBBS AND HOLT FINDINGS - SUPPORT

  significant increase in appropriate behaviour

  compared to control group with no improvement
• advantage of token economies - easy to set up in prison
• token economy advantage - no highly trained specialists and effective way to deal with offending behaviour in prison environment and improving conditions for staff and prisoners
• limitation of token economy - limited as only can be used in controlled setting of a prison and has no long-term effects in reducing reoffending