Social Contol - Token economy
- Created by: Becky Humphreys
- Created on: 10-05-13 09:44
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- Social Contol - Token economy
- How does it work
- Based on operant conditioning principles
- Tokens are secondary reinforcers - can be exchanged for a primary reinforcer - something the individual wants
- Where is it used
- Prisons (criminological), Institutions (clinical), Schools (learning)
- Why is it used
- used to shape undesirable behaviour into desirable
- Ethical Issues
- individuals may be deprived of non-essential comforts so they are motivated to work for tokens
- modifying an undesirable behaviour may be unethical as someone has to decide what behaviour is desired - coercive power - individuals rights are infringed
- In prisons right to withdraw and consent are infringed as the individual will have little free will to participate
- Practical Issues
- Suitable for use with most people - require no particular ability - reward system is clear - all involved know how to claim credit
- can be administered by anyone -tokens and rewards are cheap - TEP is relatively inexpensive
- Based on the fact staff stick to the reward system however they may miss behaviour or deviate from the training
- Effective in short term - no long term effectiveness has been shown - e.g. in prisons where TEP is used recidivism is still high suggesting generalisation does not occur outside the prison
- Influence of practitioner
- in prison staff have legitimate power in that they are expected to shape appropriate behviour so have coercive power
- How does it work
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