behaviour modification Flashcards
behaviourist principles
-one of the rehabilitation programmes in prisons
-use operant conditioing to increase the desirable behaviour+decrease teh undesirable behaviour using positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement+punishment
token economy
-Good behaviour- earns tokens for goods (food cigarettes etc.) 1960 applied to prisons after first being used with mental health patients. Positive reinforcement to induce good behaviour. Negative reinforcement is removing tokens .
-tokens arent rewarding themselves but derive their value from their association w a reward+thus r called secondary reinforcers
-the rewards r primary reinforcers
-operationalised target behaviours: target behaviour is operationalised by breaking down into component parts eg interaction w other inmates
-aim to standardise the procedures so all prison staff r rewarding same behaviours in same way
research on token economies
-hobbs+holt 1976: found ^ in desired behaviours amoung juvenile males + this was replicated in adult males b y ayllon +milan 1979.
-but ONLY ST: cohen+filipcjak 1971: found group of young male offenders who had experienced a TE w/in an institution were less likely to have reoffended 1-2 years later compared to control group of offenders. when followed up 3 years after release, the recidivism rates were same for both groups=suggests impact of token economies reduces over time
-elbers et al (2002): review article concluded TE yield positive st behavioural effects in indivuals w learning disabilities/ cognitevly below average
-milan+mckee (1976): conducted experimental research in max security prison+found praise tokens= ^ effectiveness in changing behaviour than that of punishment in form of removing social/recreational time
ao3
successful in changing behaviours+research support
-gendrau et al 2014 did a meta analysis + found te encourage prisoners to do pro-social behaviours, education +work assigenments
-hobbs+holt 1976 found sig diff in postive behaviour compared to non te group.
-clinton field et al 2004 found te programme used w young ppl w behavioural problems was effective but there was a small number who didnt respond
BUT depends on consistent approach from staff-basset+blanchard 1977 found any benefits were lost if staff applied techniques inconsistently-due to factors such as lack of appropriate staff training or high staff turn over
ao3
should be straightforward to implement but they are not
counterpoint para
-no need for specialist professional to be involved as there would in other treatments like anger management but they can be implemented n designed by anyone+also cost effective.
-HOWEVER, reppucci+saunders 1974 argued inconsistencies amongst staff was a big problem in succseful adminstration of te. also lack of resources+also instiytuional pressure influence the success. if rules r adopted by staff it doesnt work
ao3
ethical issues
-unethical+dehumanising to manipulate prisoners +restrict their ability to make own choices via te+negative reinforcement n taking away privilidges may be unfair or cruel
-may lead relatives to see n take legal action against it
ao3
not effective long term
-kirgin et al 1982 found altough te improved behaviour during it it didnt last after
-hobbs 1976 st benefits of modification programme in 3 young offenders compared w/ institution w out te
