token economy

in behavior therapy, a program, sometimes conducted in an institutional setting (e.g., a hospital or classroom), in which desired behavior is reinforced by offering tokens that can be exchanged for special foods, television time, passes, or other rewards. See also backup reinforcer; behavior modification; operant conditioning therapy.

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Psychology term of the day

October 5th 2024

lifetime risk

the odds that one will be diagnosed with a disease or condition during one’s lifetime (usually stated in terms of 70 to 85 years). It is often important for individuals undergoing genetic counseling to differentiate lifetime risk from the risk of being diagnosed with the disease in the next 5 or 10 years.