Individualistic theories in informing policy development for crime control

Question 1

[BEHAVIOURAL LEARNING THEORIES]

What is the main idea of behavioural learning theories influencing crime control?

Answer 1

Criminal behaviour is punished in order to weaken the thought process leading to illegal behaviour

Question 2

[BEHAVIOURAL LEARNING THEORIES]

Explain what a boot camp is and how it links to the concepts raised by behaviourist theories

Answer 2

Short term demanding physical tests and aim to provide children with self-discipline which is maintained when they return to the community (E.g: Drills, physical training, education, etc)

[Punishment will weaken behaviour]

Question 3

[BEHAVIOURAL LEARNING THEORIES]
Token Economy

Explain the key idea of Token Economy

Answer 3

Based on operant conditioning.
Used to encourage good behaviour. Behaviours that are reinforced will be more likely to be repeated

Question 4

[BEHAVIOURAL LEARNING THEORIES]

What are the policy developments for Behavioural learning theories?

Answer 4

Boot camps & Token Economy

Question 5

[BEHAVIOURAL LEARNING THEORIES]
Token Economy

Explain how token economy works in terms of criminals in prisons

Answer 5

1. Prisons have ‘Incentives and Earned Privileges Schemes’
2. A list of desirable behaviours is made
3. When offender performs desirable behaviour, they earn a token
4. Tokens can be exchanged for rewards (Phone calls, sweets, family visits)
5. Reinforcement causes good behaviour to become more likely and undesirable behaviour less likely

Question 6

[BEHAVIOURAL LEARNING THEORIES]
Token Economy

Explain the value of the tokens

Answer 6

Tokens = Secondary reinforcer
Anything that give pleasure to the prisoner = primary reinforcer

Question 7

[BEHAVIOURAL LEARNING THEORIES]
Token Economy

Explain 3 strengths of the

Answer 7

+ Makes prisoners more manageable

+ Helps eliminate undesirable behaviours and maintaining desired behaviours

+ Promotes conforming behaviour through rational choice

Question 8

[BEHAVIOURAL LEARNING THEORIES]
Token Economy

Explain 3 weaknesses

Answer 8

• Once reinforcements are removed, undesirable behaviours return
• Short term effectiveness - doesn’t lead to permanent behavioural change
• Fails to address underlying causes of offending

Question 9

[BEHAVIOURAL LEARNING THEORIES]
Token Economy

Explain token economy in the USA

Answer 9

Conjugal visits
Scheduled period in which a prison inmate is permitted to spend several hours in private with a visitor

((NOT PERMITTED IN THE UK))