Behaviour modification in prisons- FORENSICS

Question 1

What is used for behaviour modification in prisons?

Answer 1

• token economy schemes
• based on operant conditioning

Question 2

How do token economies work in behaviour modification?

Answer 2

• desirable behaviour reinforced by use of tokens
• tokens have no internal value but can be exchanged for primary reinforces like food or cigarettes
• some prisons use programmes of negative reinforcement to reduce undesirable behaviour
• behaviour modification tends to have a direct short term effect on specific behaviours

Question 3

Research into token economies as behaviour modification

Answer 3

HOBBS AND HOLT
- recorded effects of introducing token economies to young delinquents across 3 small institutions, had a 4th as a control.
- tokens given for behaviours like obeying rules like doing chores properly
- extra positive reinforces like soft drinks and sweets also used
- the programmes showed a significant increase in the targeted behaviour compared to the control group

RICE
- examined outcomes of 92 prisoners on a token economy programme in a maximum security psychiatric hospital.
found…
- if it was effective for an individual, then it continued to be so while they were in the institution
- the success shown within the institution had no influence on the offender’s outcomes when released

—> suggests it works for certain individuals only, and only in the short term, programme has no rehabilitative effects

Question 4

AO3- behaviour modification in prisons

STRENGTHS

Answer 4

• work well in the short term, successful in changing specific behaviour when under controlled conditions. can quickly control unmanageable behaviour, helping institutions to run more smoothly
• takes little training and expense to use, cheaper. easier to introduce as less of an issue of staff being skilled.

Question 5

AO3- behaviour modification in prisons

WEAKNESSES

Answer 5

• little evidence to suggest that they work outside of prisons, reason is due to fact that reward and punishment doesn’t happen immediately in the real world, limited rehabilitative effect which is the aim of the programme, also doesn’t reduce the likelihood of recidivism.
• programmes have been criticised for contravening human rights
• requires high commitment from staff and prisoners, if not controlled properly it becomes less effective.