What Is a Token Economy?
A token economy is a system used in behavior therapy. People earn tokens (like stickers, chips, or points) when they do good things—called target behaviors. Later, they exchange these tokens for rewards they like, called backup reinforcers.
Why Use It?
- Tokens give immediate feedback, while big rewards may come later .
- Works well with children, school groups, and therapy sessions.
- Helps people learn patience and self-control by saving tokens for bigger rewards.
Basic Steps to Set One Up
- Choose Target Behaviors
Decide which actions you want to increase (e.g., raising hand, finishing work). - Select Tokens
Use objects that are easy to give and hold—like poker chips, smiley stickers, or tally marks on paper . - Pick Backup Reinforcers
Find items or activities the learner likes: small toys, breaks, games, snacks, extra playtime. - Set Exchange Value
Decide how many tokens are needed for each reward (e.g. 5 tokens for a break). - Decide When to Give Tokens
Start with giving a token every time the behavior happens (continuous schedule), then slowly reduce it (intermittent) . - Track and Adjust
Keep checking if it’s working. You might need to change the number of tokens, target behaviors, or rewards.
What About Losing Tokens?
Sometimes, tokens are taken away (response cost) if a bad behavior happens. This should only be used carefully, after the person understands the rules, and shouldn’t cause “token debt”
Important Features
- Conditioned Reinforcement: Tokens themselves aren’t fun but become valuable because they lead to rewards.
- Generalized Tokens: If tokens can be exchanged for many different rewards, they’re called generalized.
Pros and Cons
✅ Benefits:
- Immediate feedback and structure
- Helps build planning skills
- Works across settings (school, home, therapy)
⚠️ Drawbacks:
- Can be time-consuming to manage
- Needs consistent use by everyone
- May reduce natural motivation if overused
- If stopped too quickly, behavior might fade
Simple Example
In a classroom:
- Target behavior: Raise your hand to speak
- Token: One star sticker each time
- Reward: 5 stars earn 5 minutes of free time
Summary
A token economy is a behavior system that uses tokens as short-term rewards, which are later traded for actual rewards. It encourages good behavior, teaches planning, and can be used in many places. However, it needs careful setup, consistent use, and thoughtful fading to keep working well.
