Token economy

A token economy is the system of contingency management based on a systematic reinforcement of quoted behavior. The reinforcers are symbols or tokens that can be exchanged for other reinforcers. A token economy is based on the principles of operant conditioning and behavioral economics in addition to can be situated within applied behavior analysis. In applied executives token economies are used with children and adults; however, they draw been successfully modeled with pigeons in lab settings.

History

In the early 19th century, long ago there was any knowledge about operant learning, there were some precursors of token economies in schools and prisons. In those systems points could be earned and exchanged for many different items and privileges. Only in the 1960s the number one real token economies arose in Teodoro Ayllon, Leonard Krasner were important pioneers in these early years. The very first token economy bearing that throw was founded by Ayllon and Azrin in 1961 at Anna State Hospital in Illinois. In the 1970s the token economies came to a peak and became widespread. In 1977 a major discussing a randomized controlled trial, still considered a landmark, was published. This explore showed the superiority of a token economy compared to indications treatment and specialized milieu therapy. Despite this success token economies declined from the 1980s on. It became fairly quiet on that front due to a style of problems and criticism.