FP - Dealing with offending behaviour: Behaviour modification in custody

Question 1

Behaviour modification

Answer 1

A therapeutic technique used to increase or decrease the frequencies of behaviour using operant conditioning.

Question 2

Operant conditioning

Answer 2

Learning through reinforcement or punishment. If a behaviour is followed by a desirable consequence, then that behaviour is more likely to occur again in the future.

Question 3

Token economy

Answer 3

A form of therapy where desirable behaviours are encouraged by the use of selective reinforcements. Rewards (tokens) are given as secondary reinforcers when individuals engage in correct/socially desirable behaviours. The tokens can then be exchanged for primary reinforcers - food or privileges.

Question 4

What behaviourist principle are behaviour modification techniques based in?

Answer 4

Operant conditioning.

Question 5

What is the behaviour modification technique we need to know?

Answer 5

Token economy.

Question 6

What are prisoners given tokens?

Answer 6

When they perform desirable behaviours, such as making their bed or obeying orders.

Question 7

What can tokens be used to obtain?

Answer 7

Desirable goods such as tobacco, food or watching TV.

Question 8

What do the items purchased by tokens act as?

Answer 8

Primary reinforcers

Question 9

What do reinforcers do to a desirable behaviour?

Answer 9

Increase the likelihood that a behaviour will be repeated.

Question 10

What are the tokens known as?

Answer 10

Secondary reinforcers.

Question 11

Why are tokens secondary reinforcers?

Answer 11

Because they become reinforcers through being repeatedly presented alongside the reinforcing stimulus (this is classical conditioning).

Question 12

What can happen to tokens is an undesirable behaviour is performed?

Answer 12

They can be removed which would be a punishment.

Question 13

How can token economy be used for shaping?

Answer 13

Longer-term objectives or complex behaviours consisting of smaller components can be taught through the process of shaping, whereby tokens are given for behaviours that progressively become more complex.

For example, initially tokens would be given for prisoners making their bed daily (something easily achievable) and then later it might be for being polite to prison guards.

Question 14

What is the key study on behaviour modification in custody?

Answer 14

Hobbs and Holt (1976)

Question 15

Briefly explain what Hobbs and Holt (1976) aimed to do in their study/who their ppts were

Answer 15

Observed a token economy in use at Alabama Boys Industrial school, a state training school for adolescent delinquents (aged 12-15). The aim was to reduce inappropriate social behaviour before and after dinner and when lining up.

Question 16

What was the procedure of Hobbs and Holt’s (1976) study on token economy?

Answer 16

The staff at the centre were given extensive training: 3x4hours and then twice weekly over 3 months. \this was to identify and define target behaviours, discuss methods of observing and recording data, and work out logistical problems. After the training phase there were weekly sessions to assess the operation of the programme.

In total the 125 delinquent males were observed lining in 4 cottages. One cottage served as a control group where the boys did not receive tokens. Baseline data, before tokens, was collected for all groups.

Boys were told the target criteria and told how many they could earn in each category. Each day the boys were told how many tokens they had earned and were given a piece of paper with this information. They were taken to a token economy store once a week where they could buy drinks, sweets, toys and cigarettes. They could also save tokens and use them for more expensive off-campus activities such as baseball games or visit home.

Question 17

What were the findings of Hobbs and Holt’s (1976) study on token economy?

Answer 17

The baseline percentages for social behaviours before the boys were given tokens were 66%, 47% and 73% for each of the three cottages. These increased post-tokens to 91%, 81% and 94%, an average increase of 27%. The control group showed no increase in the same time period.

Question 18

What were the data collection methods/things the boys could receive tokens for in the study by Hobbs and Holt (1976)?

Answer 18

• Following cottage rules (e.g. no smoking during games, not destroying property).
• Following instructions of cottage supervisor (e.g. lowering noise level when told).
• Before dinner: following rules of group games, completing assigned chores (sweeping, taking out rubbish).
• After dinner: interacting with peers 30-50% of the time (defined as being less than 3 feet away, talking and looking at peer, and body facing peer).
• Line behaviour: walking in a straight line.
• Inappropriate behaviour was scored if any assaultive behaviour shown (e.g. swearing, threats, hitting).