What are tokens considered in a behavior management system?

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Tokens are classified as conditioned reinforcers within a behavior management system. This classification arises because tokens hold no intrinsic value on their own; instead, they acquire reinforcing properties through their association with other, more valued items or experiences, typically referred to as primary reinforcers. For example, a token might be exchanged for a preferred activity, snack, or privilege, thus linking the token to positive outcomes that have been previously established.

The significance of tokens as conditioned reinforcers lies in their ability to motivate and reinforce desired behaviors. By earning tokens for exhibiting positive behavior, individuals learn to associate the tokens with positive rewards, enhancing their desirability and increasing the likelihood of the behavior that earned them being repeated.

In contrast, primary reinforcers are naturally reinforcing and fulfill basic biological needs, such as food or water, while unconditioned reinforcers also relate to these basic needs. Negative reinforcers involve the removal of an aversive stimulus to increase a desired behavior, which is a concept distinct from the motivation provided by tokens as conditioned reinforcers. Thus, the primary role of tokens is to function as symbols of earned reward possibilities established through learned associations, solidifying their place as conditioned reinforcers in behavior management strategies.

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