Behavior Modification Tools: Token Economies
Behavior Modification Tools: Token Economies
Many autistic people have behaviors that may benefit from behavior modification. These behaviors vary with each individual but can include difficulty staying in one location or not participating in activities. Behavior modification aims to change behavior through reinforcement and punishment. When used in a psychological sense, reinforcement and punishment are not meant to be upsetting. Simply, the purpose of reinforcement is to increase desired behaviors, while punishment hopes to decrease maladaptive behaviors.
In the field of psychology, reinforcements and punishments can be positive or negative. Positive means something is added, while negative means something is taken away. For example, the alarm that goes off when you drive without a seatbelt is negative reinforcement. The behavior of wearing your seatbelt is increased (reinforced) by the desire to take away the negative stimulus, the annoying alarm noise. The figure below summarizes positive and negative reinforcement/punishment.

From: https://sites.psu.edu/intropsychf19grp7/tag/negative-reinforcement/
This article will focus on positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement means you add something to increase the desired behavior. For example, giving a child a piece of candy after they clean their room is positive reinforcement. It is positive reinforcement because the child is more likely to clean their room in the future because they would like to earn more candy.
Positive Reinforcement: Token Economy
A token economy is a positive reinforcement technique that has decades of research supporting its effectiveness in behavior modification for autistic individuals. This system is used to motivate a person to do a desired behavior more often and do maladaptive behaviors less frequently. Token systems typically require the individual to earn a set number of tokens in exchange for their desired reward. When the tokens will be delivered varies from person to person and with their behavioral goals.
Token Economy: Token Delivery
Token delivery is usually done using either a time interval or in an exchange-based system. A time interval means that the individual earns a token after a set amount of time doing the desired behavior. Exchange-based systems are when the individual earns a token immediately after completing a task.
As an example, time interval token delivery could be used to motivate an autistic teenager to stay with their group on a field trip. In this system, for every X number of minutes the teenager stays with their group, they would earn a token. After 5 tokens have been earned, they may exchange them for a reward. The reward could be something tangible, like a snack. It could also be 10 minutes outside or 10 minutes on their iPad. When using a time interval, it is often helpful to use a visual timer so the individual can clearly see how much time they have left. The timer could be a handheld timer, a timer on a screen (like a projector), or a timer on a mobile device. In a time interval based token economy, if the individual does not do the desired behavior, the caregiver or therapist would simply restart the timer. For instance, if the teenager in this example does not stay with their group, their caregiver could explain, “I am restarting your timer because you did not stay with the group. If you stay with the group for X number of minutes, you can earn a token.”
Another example of earning tokens could be through an exchange-based system. The autistic person could earn a token for each task they complete. In a classroom setting, this could look like earning a token for each worksheet they turn in. At home, this could look like earning a token for each chore they complete. As with the time interval technique, should the person not correctly complete the task, explain they can earn a token once the task is complete correctly.
Token Economy: Tips for Success
One of the reasons token economy work well is because they appeal to autistic people’s preference for structure. Thus, how the token economy is implemented is important for its success. A variety of behaviors can be reinforced with a token system. The most important aspect of this system is that the rules are clear to the individual and that the reward is motivating and immediately available. Rewards can vary, and the individual can choose a new reward to work towards when desired. However, the reinforcing nature of the token economy is lost when the individual works for a reward and doesn’t receive it or doesn’t receive it right away. Similarly, token economies won’t work if the individual is allowed to earn tokens despite not following the rules. To use our previous example, giving a token to the autistic teenager on a field trip even if they don’t stay with the group teaches them that a token can be earned despite not following the rules. Or, if the teenager did stay with the group for the agreed upon amount of time and doesn’t receive a reward or is told they can have their reward later, the motivation to abide by the token economy is lost.
Also, offering choices in rewards after one has been earned can keep the individual motivated and involved in their treatment. Remember – if the person receiving treatment doesn’t find the reward motivating, there is no incentive for them to follow the rules of the token economy.
Token Boards
Token boards are a way for people to visually keep track of the tokens that they have earned. Boards are usually made of paper or cardboard and have a place for users to put each token they have earned – typically, the tokens and rewards that the individual is working towards are attached to the board with Velcro. The appearance of token boards can vary by individual preference. In fact, research has shown that token boards are most motivating when they have characters or objects that the individual likes. Token can help users meet their behavioral goals because they provide a tangible measure of the user’s success. You can see some examples of token boards below:
https://teachsimple.com/product/cars-themed-token-boards-behavior-management-boards
https://www.speechpointtherapy.com/single-post/2018/03/27/lets-talk-token-boards
Token economies have scientifically been proven to help increase positive behaviors and decrease problem behaviors with consistent use. It takes time and patience to discover what rewards are motivating for each individual, and these rewards are likely to change over time. Token economies can be useful in an academic setting, social setting, and at home. They can help reinforce appropriate behavior in any of these scenarios and encourage individuals to behave in a socially appropriate way.
Article by: Grace McCorkle and The Autism ToolKit
Sources
https://theautismhelper.com/dos-donts-token-economy/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891422208000437
https://www.proquest.com/docview/1517530399?accountid=12383&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10864-014-9195-7
National Libraries of Medicine Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6743517/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10700257/
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