Token economies - Sz

• Token economy for schizophrenia uses operant conditioning to identify maladaptive behaviours for example not brushing teeth or apathy.
• It works by having clinicians setting daily targets.

  The patients are rewarded with token when desirable behaviours are shown. (Secondary reinforcer)

  The tokens are then exchanged for rewards or privilege. (Primary reinforcer)

  Rewards for desirable behaviours increase the likelihood of behaviour being repeated due to the association between the reward and adaptive behaviour.
• AO3

  :)

  Research to support token economies comes from Dickerson et al who found 11 / 13 studies had beneficial effects directly attributable to token economies.

  This therefore shows research support for token economies effectiveness and how it improves adaptable behaviour which therefore increases the validity.
• AO3

  :(

  Critics argue that token economy studies tend to be uncontrolled. Comer claimed that a patient’s improvement can only be compared to past behaviour and not a control group.

  Comer also claims that any comparison is misleading as other factors such as increase in staff attention could be causing the improvements not token economy.

  This therefore reduces the validity of token economies.
• AO3

  :(

  Also when returned to community schizophrenics are dependent on tokens.

  This can limit functioning actually making it more worse for the patients than before they were having token economy.

  This is because outside life doesn’t constantly reinforce adaptive behaviour which may lead to relapse.

  Therefore this shows the negative effects of token econom.