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A Token Economy Project with Chronic Schizophrenic Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Roger Baker ,
John N. Hall  and
Keith Hutchinson
Roger Baker
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Leeds
John N. Hall
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Leeds
Keith Hutchinson
Affiliation:
Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Leeds
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Extract

The token economy is an application of operant conditioning theory which is particularly relevant to the treatment of patients in institutions. The basic idea is to motivate the patient to behave more appropriately and constructively by giving him tokens whenever he behaves in such a way. The tokens have an incentive function, as the patient can cash them in for a number of different things, such as pleasant single room accommodation, cigarettes, magazines, TV viewing, drinks etc., depending upon what is programmed into the token economy. The theory of operant conditioning is that not only does the token motivate the patient to behave in certain ways, but ‘reinforces' his behaviour. Such reinforced behaviour should eventually become an integral part of the ‘way he is', continuing even when the token is removed.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 124 , Issue 581 , April 1974 , pp. 367 - 384
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1974 

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