Token economy

Token system ( from the English Token Economy, translated as coin exchange or Münzverstärkungs system) is a method of behavior therapy based on principles of operant conditioning. Goal of a token system is the establishment of desired behavior by using systematic incentives. Synonymous with the term reward plan is used occasionally.

Since natural amplifier (activities or things that are valued or desired by the victim, such as an audio CD, a conversation with the therapist) in practice often not available immediately when the desired behavior has been shown to be in a token system called " tokens " (English " coins " ) are used for the time- contingent reinforcement of the target behavior. Thus tokens are used to bridge the time lag between the desired response and the "actual" (primary) amplification.

Similar to money is a token in a so-called generalized amplifier, ie a ( conditioned ) secondary amplifier, which can be effective for a whole class of needs. A token is thus a real medium of exchange for obtaining the primary amplifier comparable, but only works in his system ( hence the name). Can be used as tokens, eg chips, points, smileys, marbles, credit in a credit card system, checkbook system, etc. These tokens can exchange the person later to a predetermined schedule against the ( coveted ) primary amplifier.

Is mainly used, the principle of positive reinforcement. However, it is also possible to withdraw already available on the occurrence of undesirable behavior amplifier ( response cost ). However, it should be taken to strike a sensible balance between the amplifier merit and loss.

History and forms

Token systems were first introduced in closed institutions to motivate about in some homes or psychiatric hospitals, where it came to the patients or adolescents to certain activities or desired behavior. Ayllon and Azrin (1965 ) attempted the first to build a token program for an entire station with chronic schizophrenic patients long-term.

Of particular importance are amplifier systems with tokens in the treatment of children with ADHD ( attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). This will be discussed with the children or young people positive behaviors that should occur more frequently and are reinforced by tokens. In the form of daily or weekly schedules, this is then practiced gradually and so transferred into the daily routine. As a token come here often small stones from the craft supplies are used.

Similar methods are used, for example, in smoking cessation; For example: For each day without a cigarette you put a marble in a visible -positioned vessel; in a day with cigarette takes you back two. If 10 marbles could be collected, you can treat yourself to the movies. The system works in the self-testing, of course, if you can not drink just go to the cinema without 10 marbles. A token system only works when the desired primary amplifier from the patient can not be otherwise obtained. It is therefore necessary for the daily schedule and the applicable rules and adhere to adapt so that the system remains effective. If tokens are used which are cheap to procure in trade ( eg jewelery stones or marbles from the craft supplies ), must also be taken to ensure that they can not be worried by the patients themselves in large numbers. For control in open shelters can be carried out by the supervisor to a statistic.

Therapy with token systems

A token system is significantly different from a real money system, among other things, that the award of tokens must be customized to each individual participant, as every other objectives and requirements brings or is at different stages in the behavioral therapy. A response performance which is belohnenswert to a patient can include the patient for another ( not belohnenswerten ) repertoire. The redemption of the tokens can be controlled individually, because everyone has their own needs and desires, he desires to satisfy. A general reward that is not specifically targeted to the individual needs of the patient, often miss its mark.

Treatment steps

The treatment steps can be as follows:

• What a token is any,
• What number of tokens can be earned in the realization of the maximum target behavior,
• How they are allocated,
• As the token earnings changed over the course of the behavioral approach and
• How many tokens are obtained when reaching the target behavior.

During this transition usually does not cause problems for individual clients, quite a few groups token programs have failed in this last step.

Characteristics of the tokens

• Tokens are generally worth poor little items that get their exchange value only in the system, and only there, the ( previously agreed ) amplifiers can be obtained.
• Tokens can be used flexibly within the system.
• Their effectiveness is related to the different needs and thereby a saturation can be avoided.
• The award is the time, immediately on the behavior possible ( important prerequisite of operant conditioning) of.
• The amplifier is of the issuing party (for example, the teacher in the school, the therapist in therapy ) independent (in the extreme case, the output is possible even by an automaton ); temporally not directly executable amplifier can be used.

Advantages of token systems

Token systems have towards money systems many advantages:

• By the above-described points of the preparation more complex situations, the client can be made transparent.
• The token award has information value by directing the focus on the desired behavior.
• Due to the precise definitions of teachers, educators and caregivers often have very precise instructions how they should react to the behavior of clients.

This final point is also a risk is present, a large part of the effectiveness of a token program can be attributed to the fact that the social environment consistently adheres to rules. Inconsistent behavior is also a point that can condemn such a program to fail.

Disadvantages of token systems

10-20 % of the clients do not respond to token programs. It is possible in rare cases, to select patients so that homogeneous groups are formed treatable. Furthermore, the three-dimensional features, and especially the personnel are usually not sufficient.

Personnel: In practice it has been shown that even a single caregiver who is not behind the program and the instructions with negligence encountered, eg in order to gain a higher reputation in the patients, the whole program is running and derail can. As a trained in operant methods and motivated to cooperate group of nurses is necessary (which should remain constant over a period of time ), many fail token programs on staff.

Responsible psychologists: Psychologists responsible to make the mistake that she first arrived she trained with great verve and crew and build the organization of the token system, but then pull back and look after the station more in the sense of a manager. In the daily routine of Elan nursing staff then quickly evaporates when the psychologist retires after a period of direct affirmation and support without gradual fade directly from the project.

Institution: If other, sharing responsibility for patient units of the institution ( eg doctors or workshop manager ) oppose the token program, or at least confused by their statements and their behavior patients and especially the nursing staff and behave counter-productive, many fail program also at this point.

Outside world: Another possible source of interference is in the behavior of friends and relatives of patients who often things with the station bring ( even a DVD or a few treats as a reward for the great perseverance ) and thus undermine the station currency and tokens thus their reinforcing withdraw property. Particularly in the case of frequent enclosure of pocket money losing tokens quickly in value.