Behaviour modification: systematic desensitisation and token economies (WACE Year 12 Psychology Unit 3)
“Application and evaluation of learning theories in behaviour modification: systematic desensitisation as a treatment for phobias; token economies”
Behaviour modification applies learning theories to change behaviour. Systematic desensitisation applies classical conditioning to treat phobias: the person learns to relax, builds an anxiety hierarchy and is gradually exposed to the feared stimulus while relaxed, so the stimulus becomes associated with calm instead of fear. A token economy applies operant conditioning: tokens (secondary reinforcers) are given for target behaviours and exchanged for backup rewards, increasing those behaviours.
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What this dot point is asking
The syllabus asks you to apply and evaluate both techniques. You should be able to describe the steps, explain which learning theory each uses and how, and give strengths and limitations in a real-world context.
Systematic desensitisation (classical conditioning)
A phobia is an intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation. From a classical conditioning view, it is a conditioned fear response (CR) to a conditioned stimulus (CS), as in the Little Albert experiment.
Steps.
- Relaxation training: the person learns a relaxation technique such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation.
- Anxiety (fear) hierarchy: the person and therapist list situations involving the feared stimulus, ranked from least to most anxiety-provoking.
- Graded exposure: starting at the lowest step, the person is exposed to each situation while relaxed, either in imagination or in real life. They move up a step only when they stay relaxed; if anxiety rises, they return to an earlier step.
How it works. Relaxation and anxiety cannot happen at the same time. By repeatedly pairing the feared stimulus with relaxation, a new association is learned (counterconditioning), and the old fear response is extinguished because the feared stimulus is no longer followed by anything harmful.
Evaluation.
- Strengths: well supported for specific phobias; gradual and client-paced, so less distressing than sudden exposure; teaches a relaxation skill the person keeps.
- Limitations: takes many sessions; less effective for complex anxiety or phobias without a clear trigger; imagined exposure depends on the person's ability to imagine vividly; ignores any cognitive causes of the fear.
Token economies (operant conditioning)
A token economy is a system in which people earn tokens (points, stamps, stickers) for performing target behaviours. Tokens have no value in themselves: they are secondary (conditioned) reinforcers that can be exchanged for backup reinforcers such as privileges, activities or items.
Features.
- Target behaviours are clearly defined (handing in homework, arriving on time).
- Tokens are given consistently and immediately after the behaviour (positive reinforcement).
- There is a clear exchange rate for backup reinforcers.
- Tokens can sometimes be removed for unwanted behaviour (response cost, a form of negative punishment).
Token economies are used in classrooms, hospitals, youth programs and with children at home.
Evaluation.
- Strengths: clear, objective and easy to monitor; immediate reinforcement strengthens behaviour quickly; can be tailored to individuals or groups.
- Limitations: behaviour may stop when tokens are withdrawn or not generalise to other settings; extrinsic rewards may reduce intrinsic motivation (see self-determination theory); requires consistent, fair administration; ethical concerns if basic needs or rights are made conditional on earning tokens.
Systematic desensitisation uses classical conditioning (pairing a stimulus with relaxation). Token economies use operant conditioning (reinforcing a behaviour with tokens).
A primary school reading program
- Target behaviour: reading for 20 minutes at home each night, confirmed by a parent signature.
- Token: one star per signed night (a secondary reinforcer, given at the start of the next school day).
- Backup reinforcer: 10 stars can be exchanged for extra free time or choosing the class story.
- Schedule: continuous reinforcement at first to build the habit, then partial reinforcement (occasional bonus stars) to make it resistant to extinction.
- Evaluation: likely to increase reading quickly, but the teacher should encourage enjoyment of reading itself so the behaviour continues once the stars stop.
Marker's note: name the operant principles (positive reinforcement, secondary reinforcer, schedule) and relate them to the context.
- Linking systematic desensitisation to operant conditioning
- It is based on classical conditioning.
- Leaving out the hierarchy
- The graded, step-by-step exposure is what makes it systematic.
- Saying tokens are primary reinforcers
- Tokens are secondary reinforcers; they are valuable only because they can be exchanged.
- Evaluating without context
- Tie each strength and limitation to the setting in the question.
Exam-style questions
Questions in the style of SCSA exam questions on this dot point, each with a worked answer. They are written by ExamExplained unless tagged "Past paper"; the year shows the paper a question is modelled on.
Original8 marksElla has a phobia of dogs. Describe how a psychologist could use systematic desensitisation to treat the phobia, and explain how the treatment works using classical conditioning.Show worked answer →
Five marks for the steps applied to Ella and three marks for the explanation.
- Relaxation training
- Ella learns a relaxation technique, such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation.
- Anxiety hierarchy
- With the psychologist she ranks dog-related situations from least to most frightening, for example a picture of a dog, a video, a dog behind a fence, a small dog on a lead nearby, patting a dog.
- Graded exposure
- Starting at the bottom, she is exposed to each situation (in imagination or in real life) while relaxed, moving up only when she stays calm at the current step. If anxiety returns she moves back a step.
- Explanation
- The phobia is a conditioned fear response (CR) to dogs (CS). Systematic desensitisation replaces this with a new response: dogs are paired repeatedly with relaxation, which is incompatible with fear, because a person cannot be relaxed and anxious at the same time. This counterconditioning means dogs come to trigger relaxation instead of fear, and the fear response is extinguished.
Original6 marksEvaluate the use of a token economy to improve homework completion in a Year 9 class, giving two strengths and two limitations.Show worked answer →
Up to six marks for two strengths and two limitations, each identified and explained in the context of the class, with a balanced judgement.
Strengths. Tokens provide immediate positive reinforcement for the target behaviour, so homework completion is likely to increase quickly. The rules are clear and consistent, and the system can be used with the whole class and tracked easily.
Limitations. The behaviour may not continue when tokens are removed or outside the classroom (poor generalisation). Rewarding homework with tokens may reduce students' intrinsic motivation, so they complete homework only for the reward. Some students may lose interest in the backup rewards, and the system takes time to run fairly.
Practise this
Sources & how we know this
- Psychology ATAR course Year 12 syllabus (effective from 1 January 2024) — School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA)
- Psychology ATAR course: syllabus and support materials — SCSA
- Past ATAR course examinations — SCSA