The Politics of a Token Economy

Abstract

Success of a token economy program on a psychiatric ward depends more on interpersonal and institutional politics than on the esoteric fine points of therapy technique, theory, and intention. The more a token economy (or any other behavior modification program) is used as a vehicle for changing the institutional structure of mental hospitals, the more the political issue predominates. Before behavior therapists can determine the practicality of token economy programs, they must attend to the politics of institutional change.