Token Economy Overview

A collection of vocabulary flashcards for key concepts related to the Token Economy in behavioral psychology.

Token

An object or symbol that is exchanged for goods or services.

Phylogenetic Value

Refers to the evolutionary significance of a trait or function.

Back-up Reinforcers

Phylogenetically-significant stimuli that can be exchanged for tokens.

Discriminative Control

The ability of a token to influence behavior by serving as a stimulus.

Generalized Reinforcer

A conditioned reinforcer that is dependent on multiple forms of unconditioned reinforcement, e.g., money.

Token Production Schedule

The schedule that determines how many tokens are delivered for each target behavior.

Token Exchange Schedule

The schedule that specifies how many tokens are required to obtain a particular reinforcer.

Response Cost

Negative punishment that involves removing tokens for undesirable behaviors.

Token Economy Design - Step 1

Identify and define the target behaviors.

Token Economy Design - Step 2

Identify the items to use as tokens.

Token Economy Design - Step 3

Identify and procure terminal (back-up) reinforcers.

Token Economy Design - Step 4

Decide on a schedule of reinforcement for the delivery of tokens.

Token Economy Design - Step 5

Decide on the token exchange rate.

Token Economy Design - Step 6

Determine the time and place for exchanging tokens.

Advantages of Tokens

Immediate reinforcement for target behavior and highly structured.

Disadvantages of Tokens

Include time and effort to organize and conduct, and backup reinforcers can be costly.

Monkey Study (Wolfe, 1936)

Chimps were trained to lift bars to receive tokens or food.

Token Accumulation

The process whereby earned tokens function as antecedent stimuli that generate increased responding.

Competitive Behavior Induction

Tokens can elicit behavior similar to that produced by food rewards.

Challenges in Token Research

Difficulties in comparing human and non-human animal research focused on differing rewards.

Token Value Discrimination

Animals learn to distinguish between tokens with varying reward values.

Behavior Reinforcement

Tokens provide an immediate form of reinforcement that is easily quantifiable.

Natural Reinforcers

Reinforcers that occur in the natural environment beyond the token economy.

Immediate Delivery of Tokens

Tokens should be presented immediately after desirable behavior.

Fading the Token Economy

Gradually discontinuing the token system so that behaviors become reliant on natural reinforcers.

Staff Training Importance

Training staff to consistently implement the token economy is crucial for its success.

Token Theft Prevention

Measures to ensure the integrity and security of tokens within the economy.

Token vs. Conditioned Reinforcement

Token reinforcement focuses on increasing specific behaviors instead of multiple behaviors.

Comparison of Token Economies

Examples include poker chips used in classrooms and canteen money in hospitals.

Social Rewards

Incentives such as companionship or praise that can serve as effective motivators.

Functional Object Rewards

Objects that have been strongly desired by subjects can be used as tokens.

Behavioral Targeting

The practice of identifying specific behaviors for reinforcement in a token economy.

Efficient Token Delivery

Tokens should be easy to deliver and accumulate for participants.