Final answer:
C. spending rules
The missing element in the basic elements of a token economy is 'spending rules'. A token economy uses a system where individuals earn tokens for positive behavior and can exchange them for rewards based on established spending rules.
Step-by-step explanation:
The basic elements of a token economy include target behaviors, token schedule, reinforcer menu, and C. spending rules. This type of behavior management system is used in various settings, proving effective in modifying behaviors by rewarding desired actions with tokens, which can be exchanged for incentives. Tokens work as secondary reinforcers, and a set system of spending rules is crucial to ensure that the tokens have value and can be managed appropriately.
Different types of reinforcement schedules, such as fixed interval reinforcement schedule and fixed ratio reinforcement schedule, determine when the rewards are given, and these schedules are a key component of how token economies function. In these systems, children or individuals learn to associate positive behaviors with earning tokens and negative behaviors with losing tokens, which provides a clear and consistent framework for shaping and reinforcing desirable behaviors.