Preview

Describe and Evaluate Token Economy Programme as a Way of Treating Eating Disorders

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
585 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Describe and Evaluate Token Economy Programme as a Way of Treating Eating Disorders
Token economy programmes (TEP’s) are mostly used in prisons and community-based projects to encourage pro-social behaviour, but in some cases they are used in treating eating disorders. Based on the principles of operant conditioning, they involve imposing a system of rewards that can be gained if a desired behaviour is performed. The programme enables staff to shape and modify a patients behaviour to what society redeems as appropriate and safe. The management draws up a list of appropriate behaviours, targets and goals, if the patient complies; they receive a token known as the secondary reinforcer. The token can then be exchanged for a reward known as the primary reinforcer, which is negotiated with the patient as this is important as the reward is only effective if it is wanted. TEP is used to assist patients in controlling and changing their behaviour and attitude towards food as well as assisting them in gaining a healthy weight. The TEP’s appear to be effective as the results of the Okatoma study indicates that most of the participants increased their Body Mass Index (BMI) due to in-take of oral solutions and an incentive system where tokens could be exchanged for desired rewards. Also, BMI increased the temporal point of 1 to 6months after discharge. In addition, research from animals confirms the reliability of operant conditioning principles. This can be somewhat generalised to humans in a sense that we do share some of the same genes and characteristics to animals, therefore to some extent these findings can be generalised to humans. However, we cannot really generalise these findings to humans as the results of operant conditioning being used on animals may not be displayed when operant conditioning is used on humans. Also, animals do not share 100% of our genes and the social factors us humans face may not be the same for the animals. There is a problem transferring the programme outside the institutions as anorexics can become dependent on
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Psy101
    • 1560 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Psy101

    B.F Skinner was an American Psychologist who invented the operant conditioning chamber. The chamber he set up had rats in it and a lever, once the rats pulled the lever they were given a piece of food. After this happened the rate of bar pressing would increase dramatically and remain high until the rat was no longer hungry. He was a firm believer of the idea that human free will was actually an illusion and any human action was the result of the consequences of that same action. If the consequences were bad, there was a high chance that the action would not be repeated; however if the consequences were good, the actions that lead to it would be reinforced. He called this the principle of reinforcement.…

    • 1560 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Token Economy Case Study
    • 1816 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Token Economy Case Study

    A token economy is a method of behavior modification intended to increase desirable behaviors and decrease undesirable behaviors with the use of tokens. Individuals receive tokens immediately after displaying desirable behavior. Individuals collect these tokens and later exchange them for a meaningful object or privilege (Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007).…

    • 1816 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    E3 - Theories Essay Example
    • 377 Words
    • 2 Pages

    E3 - Theories Essay Example

    Ivan Pavlov was a physiologist that experimented with types of conditioning and dogs, he found ways of stimulating the dog’s saliva in their mouths by using the sound of a church bell whilst serving the food so when the dogs heard this sound they knew that food was going to be served and mouths started to produce saliva. Pavlov’s theory has had an impact on the way children are shown how to behave and how they develop for example if a staff member puts a song on that is called the ‘tidy up song’ then the children will remember that when it is put on that they need to tidy up the setting before the song is finished. Having rewards for good behaviour will encourage the behaviour to continue as they remember the…

    • 377 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Binge Drinking and How It Applies to the Ottawa Charter
    • 888 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Binge Drinking and How It Applies to the Ottawa Charter

    A neutral stimulus (such as a bell) which normally wouldn’t produce a response (such a salivating) eventually becomes paired with another stimulus (such as the food) this is referred to an unconditional response. When the bell and food (unconditional stimulus) are paired often enough the dogs start to salivate as soon as they hear the bell and before the food is served. When this occurs conditioning has taken place. (Cited in Burns 1995) Pavlov argued that if dogs could be conditioned to salivate then it is possible to apply the process to bodily process that effect illness and mental health disorders. Nowadays classical conditioning is applied in the treatment of phobias and in aversion therapies.(Cited in Burns 1995).…

    • 888 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    P2: Explain Different Psychological Approaches To Health Practice
    • 1874 Words
    • 8 Pages

    P2: Explain Different Psychological Approaches To Health Practice

    The behaviourist approach is based on the concept of explaining behaviour through observation and the belief in which our environment is what causes us to behave differently. The behavioural learning model learning is the result of conditioning. The foundation of conditioning is that a reward following a desirable response performs as a reinforcer and increases the possibility that the desirable response will be repeated. Reinforcement is said to be the core of the behaviourist approach. Furthermore, once a desired behaviour established, irregular reinforcement maintains the behaviour. The behaviourist theory approaches are frequently used in weight loss, smoking cessation, assertiveness training and anxiety-reduction programs. The significance of frequently and…

    • 1874 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Unit 8 Assignment 2
    • 4190 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Unit 8 Assignment 2

    The behavioural learning model learning is the result of conditioning. The basis of conditioning is that a reward following a desirable response acts as a reinforcement and increases the likelihood that the desirable response will be repeated. Reinforcement is the core of the behaviourist approach. Continuous reinforcement in every instance of desirable behaviour is useful when a behaviour is being introduced. Once a desired behaviour is established, intermittent reinforcement maintains the behaviour. Behaviourist theory approaches are frequently used in weight loss, smoking cessation, assertiveness training, and anxiety-reduction programs. The importance of regularly and…

    • 4190 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Redemptive Vision Coms Paper "Eating Disorders"
    • 2326 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Redemptive Vision Coms Paper "Eating Disorders"

    Thesis: A social issue that plagues our world today are eating disorders, but these can be helped by Christian counselors, who fix the problem by letting patients struggling with eating disorders know that they are important to God, God values their body, and that God cherishes when we recognize our weaknesses and give our burdens to him.…

    • 2326 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Behavior Modification Case Study Essay
    • 4360 Words
    • 18 Pages

    Behavior Modification Case Study Essay

    Using an outcome research study design, a case study was conducted of the participant throughout the sessions. Being the only participant in this study, a case study was most appropriate because a detailed description of what transpires during treatment was necessary to monitor his progress. Due to the novel application of this intervention, using a case study was good for documenting the success of therapy and allows the researcher to demonstrate the feasibility of the delivery of the therapy technique, which can lay the groundwork for further empirical testing. The study included weekly sessions over a 9-week treatment plan including a baseline assessment during the first week. The token economy was terminated during week 6 of treatment and natural reinforcers were slowly incorporated instead. The last two weeks of therapy consisted of the participant learning problem…

    • 4360 Words
    • 18 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Family Centered Health Promotion Paper
    • 900 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Family Centered Health Promotion Paper

    Serxner, S. A. A Different Approach To Population Health and Behavioral Change: Moving From Incentives to a Motivation-Based…

    • 900 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Phobias and Addiction
    • 1486 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Phobias and Addiction

    The emotional difficulties of phobias and addictions have caused learning theorists to examine classical and operant conditioning in attempting to understand and treat patients with these disorders. Before a problem is treated, it is first identified which is not an easy matter for those who suffer with panic disorder because it often mimics physical ailments. Most sufferers believe they have a “rare, mysterious physical ailment, or even worse, that they are going crazy” (Weinstock & Gilman, 1998, p. 4). Addictions, on the other hand, offer many potential indulges, ranging from alcohol consumption, heroin and cocaine abuse, overeating, compulsively overspending, excessive smoking, sexual, and love addiction. “People have a great capacity to participate in behaviors that provide momentary pleasure only to extract an emotional or physical toll” (Simon & Chopra, 2007, p. viii).…

    • 1486 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Developing Counselling Skills In Health And Social Care
    • 2195 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Developing Counselling Skills In Health And Social Care

    The behavioural learning model learning is the result of conditioning. The basis of conditioning is that a reward following a desirable response acts as a re enforce and increases the likelihood that the desirable response will be repeated. Reinforcement is the core of the behaviourist approach. Continuous reinforcement in every instance of desirable behaviour is useful when behaviour is being introduced. Once a desired behaviour is established, intermittent reinforcement maintains the behaviour. Behaviourist theory approaches are frequently used in weight loss, smoking cessation, assertiveness training, and anxiety-reduction programs. The importance of regularly and consistently rewarding desired behaviour immediately and not rewarding undesirable behaviour is crucial to the success of a behaviourist approach to learning. Learning is broken down into small steps so that the person can be successful. The nurse provides reinforcement at each step of the process. For example, when a patient is learning how to inject insulin, the nurse looks for a positive behaviour and then gives the patient immediate reinforcement by saying, “I liked the way you pulled back the syringe,” or “You did an excellent job of withdrawing the…

    • 2195 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Psychology Contemporary Debate
    • 1170 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Psychology Contemporary Debate

    He studied the effect of a token economy on the behaviour of an entire class. Each student was provided with a marker of some sort which can be moved up or down the chart. The students all began on the neutral level, and if they exhibit negative behaviour they move down a level. The positive levels on the other hand offer an award. Filcheck observed and recorded a significant reduction in inappropriate behaviour during the period in which token economy was in place. This implies that conditioning techniques are simple to apply by non specialists such as teaching assistants and parents, and are still readily applicable and effective in the controlling of children's…

    • 1170 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Describe The Requirements For Creating A Client With Anorexia
    • 516 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Describe The Requirements For Creating A Client With Anorexia

    Nutritional counselling and advice can help your client to identify their fears about food and the physical consequences of not eating well. The initial aim of treatment is to re establish a healthy attitude toward food and a consistent pattern of…

    • 516 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Psychology: Eating Disorders
    • 2437 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Psychology: Eating Disorders

    Eating disorders have drastically been on the climb in the recent years. It has become increasing popular to be extremely thin and focus on the superficial aspects of the body. Currently 8 million people are living with some kind of eating disorder. There are three different types of eating disorders that include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. These are all psychological disorders that can be very detrimental if not treated and improved upon. While all three of these disorders have extreme risk and consequences the most well know are anorexia nervousa and bulimia nervousa. Although these psychological disorders are greatly related with the desire to be thin there is a much deeper backgrounds to be explored.…

    • 2437 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Bf Skinner
    • 1169 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Bf Skinner

    Burrhus Frederic Skinner was born March 20, 1904 in the town of Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. Skinner was raised as an active child and could be found creating inventions to help him with everyday life. As a young adult, Skinner received a Bachelors of Arts in English from New York’s Hamilton College. Also, Skinner was a writer for the school’s newspaper. Writing had always been a passion of Skinner’s and he frequently submitted short stories and poems in the hopes that they would be published. Skinner stayed in New York City working as a bookstore clerk where he stumbled upon the books by Ivan Pavlov and John B. Watson. Skinner found them fascinating and it sparked his longing to learn more.…

    • 1169 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More

Related Topics