PSYCO282 Chapter Notes - Chapter 22: Reinforcement, Intellectual Disability, The Tokens
11 Apr 2016
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No t e b o o k: behavior mod. Token economy: a reinforcement system where tokens are delivered to people for desirable behaviors, and then later exchanged for backup reinforcers. Token economies were developed by ayllon and azrin for hospitalized psychiatric patients. Directed at changing the behaviors of groups of people, not just individuals. Directed at changing a number of target behaviors. Applying complex systems to manage the consequences of behaviors. Token: a conditioned reinforcer used in a token economy that is accumulated by a person. Backup reinforcer: reinforcers used in a token economy that can be obtained by exchanging tokens. Token economies are more effective than social reinforcement for performance, such as with homework. Tokens must be tangible and delivered immediately after each instance of the target behaviors. The token chosen should not be available from any source other than the change agent. Backup reinforcers must not be available to clients except for purchase with tokens.
