Ddealing With Offending Behaviour: Behaviour Modification In Custody

Question 1

What is behaviour modification

Answer 1

• behaviourist approach treatment
• aim of reinforcing obedient behaviour in offenders whilst punishing disobedience in the hope that the former continues and latter dies out

Question 2

What is behaviour modifications like token economies based on

Answer 2

Based on operant conditioning

Question 3

How is token economy used in prisons

Answer 3

Desirable behaviour may include
- following prison rules
- keeping one cells orderly
- avoiding confrontation
Token is given whenever they do desirable behaviour
In desirable behaviour token is withheld or removed \tokens are secondary reinforcers
Tokens can be exchanges could be
- phone call to loved one
- time in the gym
- extra cigarettes or food
All of which are primary reinforcers

Question 4

How toke economy is designed and used

Answer 4

Operationalise target behaviour -
Scoring system
Train staff

Question 5

One limitation of token economy to deal with offenders

Answer 5

Tokens are exchanged for rewards in prison this wont continue when offender is released so undesirable behaviour is likely to restart
Research has shown rates of criminality of young offenders reduced in prisons but returned to the same rate as contol group when left prison

So it is not likle token economy will lead to long term rehabilitative change in offenders

Question 6

Research evidence of token economies dealing with offenders

Answer 6

Hobbs and holt
- found token Edomite’s improved behaviour of young offenders in prison when compared to control groups who had not participated in token economies
So token economies effective way to deal with offenders

Question 7

One limitation of token economy as a method of behaviour modification is that many consider them to be unethical why

Answer 7

It has also been described as manipulative ad dehumanising
Participation in the scheme is obligatory rather then optional and withdrawal of privileges is unethical

Question 8

Another limitation is token economy is it has to be consistent

Answer 8

Success on system depends on consistent approach from prison staff
- research has shown benefits were lost if staff applied the techniques inconsistently
- this was due to factors such as lack of appropriate staff training or high staff turnover

So it must ensure full and consistent staff participation if they are to work