Which system involves the reinforcement of target behavior through the use of tokens that can later be exchanged for rewards?

The concept of a token economy revolves around a system where individuals earn tokens for exhibiting desired behaviors. These tokens serve as a form of currency within that system, allowing individuals to later exchange them for various rewards or privileges. This approach is rooted in the principles of operant conditioning, where behaviors are reinforced through incentives, making it effective in structured environments like schools, therapeutic settings, or behavior modification programs.

In a token economy, the reinforcement is not immediate; instead, the use of tokens allows for delayed gratification, which can help sustain motivation over time. Participants can see their progress accumulate as they earn tokens, which can lead to a greater likelihood of repeating the desired behavior.

In contrast, behavioral modeling involves learning behaviors through the observation of others, reinforcement schedules refer to the timing and frequency of rewards for behaviors, and behavioral contracts are agreements between parties that outline expected behaviors and consequences. None of these options specifically describe the mechanism of earning and exchanging tokens for rewards as effectively as the token economy does.