Token Economy (forensics)

Question 1

What is token economy?

Answer 1

• Based on operant conditioning: reinforces desirable behaviour with a token that can be exchanged for a reward.
• Tokens are secondary reinforcers; the reward is the primary reinforcer.
• Desirable behaviours and rewards are made clear to the prisoners before the programme is implemented.

Question 2

Components of a token economy system

Answer 2

• Everyone is made aware of the scoring system and how much
  behaviours are worth.
• Behaviours are hierarchical- those that are more demanding have greater rewards attached to them.
• Train staff- Standardise procedures so that all staff are rewarding the same behaviours in the same way.
• Allot a certain time and place for exchanging tokens.

Question 3

Strengths of a token economy system

Answer 3

+ Easy to implement: no need for expertise or specialist professionals, can be designed by anyone, cost effective and easy to follow once workable methods of reinforcement have been introduced.

+ Research to support: Hobbs and Holt - introduced a token economy system with three groups of young offenders and a control group. Observed a significant difference in behaviour compared to control. BUT Blanchard and Bassett found that if applied inconsistently, any benefits were lost.

Question 4

Limitations of a token economy system

Answer 4

• Little rehabilitative value: Positive changes lost when prisoner released. Prisoners may play along with it to get easy rewards, but it produces little to no changes in behaviour.
• Ethical Issues: Manipulative and dehumanising –> participation is not optional, withdrawal of privileges is unethical.