lesson 10 behaviour modification

Question 1

define behaviour modification

Answer 1

behavioural therapy which uses operant condition techniques to encourage positive behaviours

Question 2

what is token economy?

Answer 2

form of behaviour modification which uses positive reinforcement in the form of secondary reinforcers

Question 3

what are secondary reinforcers?

Answer 3

usually tokens

Question 4

when are secondary reinforcers given?

Answer 4

when a person displays desirable behaviour

Question 5

what happens to the tokens?

Answer 5

they can be exchanged for primary reinforcers

Question 6

what happens if the prisoner shows bad behaviour?

Answer 6

tokens will be withheld which is negative reinforcement

Question 7

what happens once the desirable behaviour is identified?

Answer 7

it is broken down into smaller steps called increments

Question 8

who is the programme overseen by?

Answer 8

prison official

Question 9

strength of token economy

Answer 9

easy to administer and does not require expert professionals or specialised equipment
cost-effective and easy to follow

Question 10

weakness of token economy- staff

Answer 10

doesn’t work if staff aren’t consistent and sometimes lack of appropriate training or high staff turnover makes consistency problematic

Question 11

weakness of behaviour modification- controlled environment

Answer 11

it only works in a controlled environment as positive behavioural change is lost when prisoner is released because law-abiding behaviour is not always reinforced on the outside and the rewards that result from breaking the law may be too powerful

Question 12

weakness of token economy- unethical

Answer 12

critics say it is unethical because in some prisons participation is obligatory
withdrawal of privileges can be psychologically harmful

Question 13

weakness of behaviour modification- surface

Answer 13

only deals with surface behaviour and does not require offender to reflect on the cause of their offending and take responsibility for their rehabilitation