*Dealing With Offending: Behaviour Modification Flashcards
What does the behaviourist approach suggest about behaviour?
All behaviour is learned
What is the goal of behaviour modification programmes?
To reinforce obedient behaviours and punish disobedience
What is the basis of a token economy?
Operant conditioning
What behaviours are considered desirable in a token economy?
- Avoiding confrontation
- Following rules
- Keeping cell clean
What do prisoners receive when they perform a desirable behaviour?
A token
What can happen if behaviour is not compliant in a token economy?
Tokens can be withdrawn or withheld as punishment
What is the value of tokens in a token economy?
They get their value from their association with a reward (secondary reinforcers)
Name some primary reinforcers that tokens could be exchanged for.
- Phone calls
- Extra time in the gym
- Cigarettes
- Snacks
What must prison staff do to effectively implement a token economy?
Operationalize the target behaviours
How should target behaviours be defined in a token economy?
They must be broken down into objective and measurable components
What is the aim of training prison staff in a token economy?
To standardize the procedures for rewarding behaviours
What did Hobbs and Holt’s study find about token economies?
Significant difference in positive behaviour compared to the non-token economy group
What did Field et al. find about token economies with young people?
Generally effective, with more positive results when rewards were more immediate and frequent
List some strengths of behaviour modification in custody.
- Easy to set up
- No need for specialists
- Cost effective
- Easy to follow
- Can be used in most prisons
- Accessible by most prisoners
What is one outcome of using token economies in prisons?
Decreased conflict within prisons
