PSYB45H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 25: Token Economy, Weaning
Document Summary
Token economies behavioural program in which individuals can earn tokens for a variety of desirable behaviours and can exchange the earned tokens for backup reinforcers. Tokens can be given immediately following desirable behaviour. Tokens can be paired with multiple different backup reinforcers (generalized conditioned reinforcers: useful for diverse groups, with different reinforcer preferences. Decide on the target behaviour(s) - clearly defined and identifiable. Gather baseline data - can help with selecting backup reinforcers. Select backup reinforcers - use a wide variety and take ethical considerations into account. Select the type of tokens to use - some desirable characteristics: durable; easy to handle and manage; difficult to steal and counterfeit. Preparation of a detailed manual for the token economy - helps foresee problems, support everyone in the token economy (participants and staff) Ultimately want naturally occurring reinforcers (i. e. , social reinforcement) to replace the tokens. Different strategies for weaning from tokens: eliminate tokens gradually, decrease token value gradually.
