token economy

Meaning: A token economy is a behavior modification program built on operant conditioning. When a target behavior occurs, the person receives a token. Later the tokens are traded for a backup reinforcer such as a snack, free time, or a privilege. The token has no value by itself. It gains reinforcing power through its association with the backup reinforcers, so it is a secondary (conditioned) reinforcer, while a food reward would be a primary reinforcer. Token economies are used in classrooms, residential facilities, and behavioral therapy.

On the MCAT: A passage describes a classroom or hospital ward that gives points for completed tasks, then asks you to name the learning type (operant, not classical), the kind of reinforcement (positive reinforcement with a secondary reinforcer), or the expected change (the rewarded behavior becomes more frequent). Questions may also ask what happens when tokens are withdrawn (extinction, so the behavior declines) or how the schedule of token delivery affects persistence. Variable-ratio schedules typically produce behavior that is most resistant to extinction.

Common confusion: Students call tokens punishment or negative reinforcement because they are "controlling." Reinforcement increases behavior and punishment decreases it. Positive and negative mean adding or removing a stimulus. Earning a token adds a stimulus, so it is positive reinforcement. Taking tokens away for misbehavior (response cost) is negative punishment.