Behaviour modification

Question 1

what is behaviour modification?

Answer 1

application to the behaviourist approach to treatment. They generally tend to replace undesirable behaviours with desirable ones through the selective use of positive and negative reinforcement.

Question 2

what does the behaviourist approach propose?

Answer 2

behavior is learned and behavior can be unlearned through the same principles

Question 3

what are BM programs designed to do?

Answer 3

reinforcing obedient behaviour whilst punishing disobedience in the hope that it dies out

Question 4

why are tokens given?
what is it based on?
examples of desirable behaviours?

Answer 4

• given to reinforce desirable behaviours
• operant conditioning - desirable inmate behaviours are rewarded with tokens
• avoiding conflict, being quiet in a cell, following rules and so on

Question 5

what can tokens be exchanged for?

Answer 5

something desirable
vary to the institution, but some examples are phone calls to a loved one, time in the gym, cigarettes, food

Question 6

what are the primary and secondary reinforcer?

Answer 6

pimary - call to a loved one
secondary - tokens because derive their value from the association with the primary reinforcer.

Question 7

when designing a BM programme :

Answer 7

• desirable bhaviour identified
• broken down into smaller steps
• a baseline measure is established

Question 8

strength - easy to implement

Answer 8

-Bm does not need specialist like other treatments (anger management) and it is more cost effective and easy to follow once it has been designed
- also depends on the consistent approach of prison staff
- bassett and Blanchard said any benefits may be lost by inconsistent staff application, less training and staff turnover
- easy to implement but other factors undermine its effectiveness.

Question 9

little rehabilitative value

Answer 9

Blackburn - positive changes in prison can be easily lost when released.
-TES are more likely to work inside prisons but they may not be maintained outside
- law-abiding behavior is not always reinforced, the rewards the offenders receive by breaking the law are powerful
- TES - limited in their value

Question 10

ethical issues raised

Answer 10

conditions of BM - manipulative and dehumanizing by some
- participation is obligatory rather than optional
- anyone who does not comply with the schemes loses their privileges through the withdrawal of tokens which is ethically questionable
questions morality and fairness of using TES