From the Corner Office...

Token Economy to the Iceberg
 
I remember when I started working in this field we utilized a “token economy system” to try to change behavior.  As a staff in a residential setting during the early 90s working with children with disabilities I was asked to provide treats or “tokens” when a child did something good and when they made a bad decision about their behavior the token was withheld.  Sometimes outings were even withheld.  This was so hard for me to understand and to follow. 

I loved outings with the children that lived in that specialized residential home.  I even liked the child who would react by pulling hair or screaming, when they were in new situations.  I liked helping them through those challenging situations.  Showing them that I cared about them even when their day was challenging and they felt like lashing out verbally or physically.

Recently I saw an advertisement that reflected on the theory of positive reinforcement and it was asking us to put ourselves in that situation.  What if others had an expectation that we needed to “earn” a treat or to “earn” an outing. 

Picture yourself in this example:   When you are having a bad day and you don’t get all your work done or can’t get to all your laundry, do you want to then be told that you can’t have your glass of wine you love to have at night while watching tv or that you can’t go out to eat and to a movie with your spouse on Saturday?   Or rather do you want someone to say, “It looks like you are having a hard day, I am sorry about that, is there anything I can do to help?” (When I am having a bad day, I choose the latter…… while they are handing me a glass of wine!  Lol)

I am glad that the old “token economy philosophies” are not an emphasis and that we are now teaching staff to focus on the relationship and the person.  Staff are reminded to “meet them where they are at” and understand that they are a good person even when they may make a poor choice or lose control.  We teach the “iceberg theory”- that we don’t always understand what is below that water line that could be affecting others.

 A person could be dealing with stress from other things that we cannot see.  Our spouse may have had a challenging day at work or loss a sale and they may not be getting their share of the work done at home that night or were a little cranky to you.   We can see the action but we don’t always understand the deeper emotions that lie beneath.  Just like the iceberg that is often hidden below the water line.  I am happy with the transition of philosophies from token economy to remembering the iceberg! 
 
With much gratitude,
 
Jill