Token Economy
A reinforcement system in which individuals earn tokens for target behaviors and later exchange those tokens for preferred backup reinforcers.
A token economy is a behavior management system built on the principle of reinforcement. Individuals earn generalized conditioned reinforcers, called tokens, for engaging in specified target behaviors. Tokens themselves have value because they can be exchanged for backup reinforcers, such as preferred items, activities, or privileges.
A well-designed token economy specifies the target behaviors that earn tokens, the form and exchange rate of the tokens, and the menu of backup reinforcers available. Because tokens can be delivered immediately and exchanged later, the system bridges the gap between a behavior and a delayed reward, helping maintain behavior across time and settings.
Token economies are common in classrooms and structured programs, including check-in/check-out systems where students earn points throughout the day. Tracking tokens earned and exchanged provides clear data on participation and progress, allowing teams to fade the system gradually as target behaviors become more independent.