dealing with offending behaviour: behaviour modification

Question 1

what is behaviour modification in custody?

Answer 1

• behaviourist therapy based on operant conditioning principles
• as all human behaviour learned should be possible to encourage unlearning behaviour
• aims to reinforce obedient/good behaviour whilst punishing disobedience in offenders so can become extinct
• made possible bc of token econ syste,

Question 2

what is a token economy?

Answer 2

• A token economy is when subjects are given “tokens” based on a desired behaviour that was chosen by the head of the token economy
• The head of the token economy (head of the prison) has to design a list of desirable behaviour i.e. working well with others, engaging with the prison therapist etc

Question 3

how do tokens work?

Answer 3

• The value of tokens must be defined, so that people understand how many tokens they need to earn to redeem rewards of their choice
• Prisoners can exchange these for rewards, such as, smoke breaks, free time, and even better living conditions
• Token Economies utilize operant conditioning to direct behaviour. This is done by rewarding good behaviour with tokens, or by punishing bad behaviour by taking away tokens or withholding privileges.

Question 4

what are the components of behaviour modification?

Answer 4

miltenberger 2008

1. target behaviour identified
2. decide on the type of token
3. identify primary reinforcers
4. decide on a reinforcement schedule (how long token exchange lasts)
5. criteria required for exchange (how many tokens needed for a reward)
6. decide on a time and place for exchange
7. decide on a penalty or fine for undesirable behaviours

Question 5

how do token economy systems work?

Answer 5

• desirable behaviours are positively reinforced (selective reinforcement) by giving tokens that can be exchanged for rewards
  primary reinforcer
• the desired reward eg. phone call home = secondary reinforcer - soemthing associated with reward eg. token

Question 6

how to design and use a token economy system?

Answer 6

• operationalise target behaviours
• scoring system

Question 7

operationalise target behaviour

Answer 7

operationalise target behaviours by breaking it down into conponent parts (improved interaction with inmates ex. speak politely) should be objective and measurable with staff and inmate agreement

Question 8

scoring systems

Answer 8

• scoring system made by staff and prisoner for worth of each behaviour as hierachial as some more demanding than others recieving more rewards
• some token econ systems may reward tokens directly but others may award points converted into tokens
• suggested reinforcements outnumber punishments by ratio 4:1

Question 9

train staff

Answer 9

• important staff given full training to implement it successfully and can involve several hours for number of weeks
• aim is to standardise the procedures so that all prison staff rewarding the same behaviours in the same way
• staff must record when they have awarded tokens so progress of individual prisoners can be assessed

Question 10

evaluate behaviour modification

Question 11

what is research to support behaviour modification

Answer 11

• hobbs and holt 1976
• introduced a token economy prgramme with groups of young offenders across three behavioural units (fourth as control)
• significant difference in positive behaviour compared to non-token economy group
• field et al 2004 token econ programme for young people with behavioural problems generally effective whilst some didnt respond they were placed on a special prgramme with immediate and freq rewards making results more positive

Question 12

what is a counterpoint to research support for token systems

Answer 12

dependent on consistent approach from prison staff as bassett and blanchard found that benefits were lost if staff applied the teachniques inconsistently which can be due to not appropriate training/high staff turnover

Question 13

how is implementation a strength of behaviour modification

Answer 13

• straightforward to set up as there is no need for specialist professional as would be for other forms of treatment like anger management
• can be designed to be implemented by virtually anyone in any institution
• cost-effective and easy to follow once workable methods of reinforcement established
• established in most prisons and accessible most prisoners

Question 14

how does behaviour modification have little rehabilitative value?

Answer 14

• may not affect long-term behaviour
• blackburn suggested that any positive changes in behaviour that may occur whilst in prison may be quickly lost upon release and more cognitive based treatments like anger management more likely to have permenence
• offenders may play along with token econ to access rewards and produce little change to overall character
• may quickly regress
• rice et al behaviour modification in a psychiatric prison setting and found an increase in positive behaviours and when programme then stopped desirable behaviours reduced significantly with 50% reoffending

Question 15

how is behaviour modification arguably unethical

Answer 15

manipulative and dehumanising as participation is obligatory rather than optional and human rights’ capaigners have suggested that withdrawal of ‘privileges’ like contact with loved ones quite unethical and shouldnt be dependent on their behaviour `