dealing with offending behaviour: Behaviour modification in Custody

Question 1

Behaviour modification

Answer 1

an application of the behaviourist
approach to treatment based on the principle of operant conditioning. Undesirable behaviours are replaced with desirable behaviours through the
use of positive and negative reinforcement.

Question 2

Token economy

Answer 2

based on operant conditioning and it involves reinforcing desirable behaviour with tokens that can be exchanged for some reward.

Question 3

When are offenders given tokens

Answer 3

Every time they perform a desirable behaviour.

Question 4

Why are token regarded as secondary reinforcers

Answer 4

They derive their value from association with a reward.

Question 5

Examples of tokens which can be exchanged for rewards

Answer 5

Time in gym
Phone calls
extra food

Question 6

How does selective reinforcement work

Answer 6

Desirable behaviour is identified, broken down into small steps. So a particular offender may be reinforced by the prison officers to work positively on a certain behaviour.

Question 7

Research example Hobbs and Holt

Answer 7

Hobbs and Holt introduced a token economy programme with young delinquents across three behavioural units (4th one was control).

Question 8

Hobbs and Holt findings

Answer 8

Observed a significance difference in positive behaviour compared to the non-token. Similar effect was found with offenders in an adult prison (Allyon et al)