Internal control and success orientation in a token economy for emotionally disturbed adolescents
Deiker, T.; Matson, J.L.
Adolescence 14(53): 215-220
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-8449 PMID: 443097 Document Number: 139673
Forty-one emotionally disturbed adolescents were tested at each of three token economy levels on Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale and Guevar's Success-Failure Inventory. Delay of reinforcement (immediate, daily, weekly) was the primary differentiation between levels. One-way analyses of variance indicated a change across levels in the direction of more perceived internal control of behavior (p less than .025) and a greater success orientation (p less than .005). Change scores were not correlated with length of time in the program. Results suggest that the token economy as an external source of control is not necessarily incompatible with increasing patient expectancies of present and future control of the environment.