A therapist working with children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) gives them a star sticker each time they complete a task without distraction. After collecting five stars, they can exchange it with a small toy. What psychological technique is being used here ?
A therapist working with children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) gives them a star sticker each time they complete a task without distraction. After collecting five stars, they can exchange it with a small toy. What psychological technique is being used here ?
Options
Correct option: (B) Token economy — desired behaviour (completing a task without distraction) is reinforced with tokens (star stickers) that are later exchanged for a tangible reward (toy), the defining structure of a token economy.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark: correct option (B) Token economy.
Hint
Look for the reward structure: token now, tangible prize later, given for a specific target behaviour — this is the hallmark of a token economy.
Quick Oral Answer
Rewarding a target behaviour with tokens that are later exchanged for a real prize is a token economy, based on operant conditioning — the answer is (B).
Analysis & Explanation
This applied question checks recognition of a specific operant-conditioning-based behaviour therapy technique from a real-world description.
Why B is correct:
Token economy is a behaviour therapy technique based on operant conditioning where secondary reinforcers (tokens, stars, points) are given immediately after a desired behaviour and later exchanged for a valued primary reinforcer (a toy, privilege, etc.). The scenario matches this exactly: stars are earned for on-task behaviour and exchanged for a toy.
Why the distractors are wrong:
- Classical conditioning (A) involves associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response (e.g., Pavlov's dogs); there is no such pairing here, only reinforcement of behaviour.
- Systematic desensitization (C) is used to reduce fear/anxiety by gradual exposure paired with relaxation, unrelated to rewarding task completion.
- Free association (D) is a psychoanalytic technique where the client says whatever comes to mind, entirely unrelated to reward-based behaviour modification.
Common Mistakes
- 1Confusing token economy with classical conditioning simply because both are 'conditioning' based — token economy specifically uses operant (reward-based) conditioning.
- 2Selecting systematic desensitization because the scenario involves a therapist and children, without noticing there is no anxiety-reduction or exposure component.
Interesting Facts
Token economies were first systematically used in psychiatric hospital wards in the 1960s to encourage self-care and social behaviours among patients with chronic conditions.
Token economies are widely used in classrooms today (e.g., star charts, point systems) precisely because they make abstract reinforcement schedules concrete and immediate for children.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is token economy based on classical or operant conditioning?
Token economy is based on operant conditioning, specifically positive reinforcement — a behaviour is strengthened because it is immediately followed by a rewarding token.
Why are tokens used instead of giving the reward directly?
Tokens act as secondary reinforcers that can be given immediately after the desired behaviour, bridging the delay until the larger primary reinforcer (toy, privilege) can be provided, which strengthens the behaviour more effectively.