Forensics - Behaviour modification

Question 1

what are token economies

Answer 1

• prisoners given a token when desirable behaviour is performed
• behaviours and rewards are made clear before the programme is implemented
• non-compliance or disobedience may result in token economies being removed
• token economies are secondary reinforcers

Question 1

what is behaviour modification

Answer 1

• application of the behaviourist approach
• based on the principles of operant conditioning
• replace undesirable behaviour

Question 2

how to design a token economy

Answer 2

Operationalise target behaviours
- units of behaviour should be objective and measurable and agreed with prison staff and inmates in advance

Scoring system
- how much a particular behaviour is worth should be established
- behaviours are hierarchal

Train staff
- standardise the procedures
- staff record when they have awarded tokens so the progress of the individual prisoners can be assessed

Question 3

what are the strengths

Answer 3

Hobbs and Holt
- observed a significant difference in positive behaviour compared to a control group

Easy to implement
- no need for specialists or professionals
- cost-effective
- established in most settings

Question 4

what are the limitations

Answer 4

Blackburn
- any positive changes in behaviour that may occur may be lost once released from prison
- CBT treatments may lead to more permanent behaviour
- offenders can play along to just simply gain rewards

Basset and Blanchard
- any benefits were lost if staff were inconsistent
- due to staff training and a high staff turnover