AC4.1 Assess Criminological Theories In Informing Policy Development Flashcards
What are the different individualistic policies?
Aversion therapy
Behaviour modification
Psychoanalysis
What theory does aversion therapy link to?
Eysenck’s personality theory
What is aversion therapy?
Behavioural therapy that involves repeat pairing an unwanted behaviour with discomfort. This conditioning process makes the individual associate the stimuli with unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations
What is an example of aversion therapy?
Giving a smoker a shock every time they smoke
How does aversion therapy link to eysenck?
Links to his personality theory in the treatment of sex offenders
Eysenck states that criminals are strongly extravert and neurotic, making them harder to condition as they are more resistant to the process. Therefore conditioning needs to be stronger
Strengths of aversion therapy
Generally successful while under the direction of a therapist
Weaknesses of aversion therapy?
Relapse rates are high
Ethical issues
Risk of injury or death
Can cause increased anxiety or anger
Lacks rigorous scientific evidence
What theory does behaviour modification link to?
Banduras social learning theory
What is behaviour modification?
A technique that focuses on promoting desirable behaviour and extinguishing undesirable behaviours
What is a token economy?
A programme used in some prisons where a token is given for a desirable action, which is later exchanged for a treat
What is operant learning?
The idea that we can increase or decrease a certain behaviour by adding a reward/ punishment
What are the different incentive levels in prison?
Basic level (limited to basic things)
Standard level ( allowed more money)
Enhanced (get tv and own clothes etc..)
What are incentive levels based on?
Behaviour, commitment to rehabilitation and taking part in work/activities
Evidence to suggest that behaviour modification works
Offenders who undergo behaviour modification take longer to reoffend than others
Makes prisoners more manageable
Fo and Odonnels study showed reinforcements had improved effects on the behaviour of serious offenders
Evidence to suggest that behaviour modification doesn’t work
Often doesn’t work long term, once reinforcement stops, behaviour is likely to return
Hobbs and holt found token economies have short term effects with young offenders
Allyon and Milan found short term effects with adults
Ethical issues — some argue the things earned are basic rights
