behaviour modification in custody

Question 1

what is behaviour modification based on?

Answer 1

Behaviour modification programmes are based on the behaviourist principles of operant conditioning.

Question 2

aim of behaviour modification

Answer 2

effectively manage and monitor offenders during their sentence and reduce the likelihood of reoffending

Question 3

what are the the behaviourist principles behind behaviour modification?

Answer 3

Obedient behaviour in offenders should be reinforced, whilst disobedience should be punished, in the hope that undesirable behaviours become extinct and are replaced with desirable behaviours.

Question 4

what is token economy based on this theory?

Answer 4

The token economy system involves reinforcing desirable behaviour (e.g. avoiding conflict, following prison rules etc) with a token that can be exchanged for a reward (e.g. a phone call to a loved one, time in the gym, extra food etc).

Question 5

what is the aim of token economy? and what are the 3 steps in designing it?

Answer 5

• Tokens are secondary reinforcers because the tokens themselves are not valuable, but they are associated with receiving a reward.
• Non-compliance or disobedience may result in the tokens, and the associated rewards, being withheld or removed as a form of punishment.
• Designing and using token economy: 1. Operationalising target behaviours 2. Scoring system 3. Standardised procedure

Question 6

define changing behaviour

Answer 6

The desirable behaviour is identified, broken down into small steps and a baseline measure is established. The prison officers must all follow the same regime of selective reinforcement (responding to desired behaviours with a reward). Prison officials can then monitor the effectiveness of the programme.

Question 7

hobbs and holt 1976

Answer 7

introduced a token economy programme with young offenders across three behavioural units, and a fourth non-token economy group acted as a control). There was a significant difference in positive behaviour in the token economy groups compared to the non-token economy group.