Token economy - dealing with offending behaviour Flashcards
based on
operant conditioning principles to modify behaviour using rewards to reinforce desired behaviours to continue
what do prison staff do initially (e.g.s)
outline the desired behaviours e.g. comply to prison rules, when the behaviour is seen they receive a token
what are tokens and their purpose
secondary reinforcers which can be exchanged for rewards
what are the rewards
primary reinforcers, things the inmates desire e.g. time on the xbox
who decides on the rewards
prisoners to maintain motivation
what must we ensure about the tokens
they aren’t replicable/can’t cause harm
how can negative reinforcement be used
to avoid something unpleasant e.g. time off pot washing
what do the prison staff decide about the tokens and how are they controlled
they decide on the exchange process e.g. 300 tokens = a visit. initially desired behaviour is rewarded every time, as the programme develops behaviour shaping techniques are used e.g. every 3rd time
can punishment be used?
yes e.g. isolation to reduce non-desired behaviours
Hobbs and Holt study explanation
observed a TEP in use at Alabama Boys Industrial School, a state training school for adolescent delinquents. aim to reduce inappropriate social behaviour before and after dinner and when lining up. staff given time to identify target behaviours, ways of observing and recording data, identify issues and assess the operation. They observed 125 delinquent males between 12-15 years living in 4 cottages. One cottage was a control group were token economy was not in operation. The boys were told how many tokens and what behaviours needed to be evident to receive them. They were given a piece of paper each day informing them how many tokens they had received. 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 for more valuable items such as visits home.
Hobbs and Holt study results
They found the mean percentages for social behaviours before the boys were given tokens were 66%, 47% and 73% for the 3 cottages. Post-tokens they increased to 91%, 81% and 94%, an average increase of 27%. The control group showed no increase of social behaviours.
E-ethical issues
violation of human rights because the individuals behaviour is being manipulated without agreement.
E-ethical issues- Hall
suggests human rights violation can be overcome with TEP being agreed with all who are involved
E-ethical issues that remain
basic needs are conditional on good behaviour. some prisoners who can’t control their behaviour are unable to earn tokens and be granted these rights. also punishment is unethical and goes against rehab goals
E-practical considerations- can be administered by anyone with training and no psychologist is needed to manage behaviour. tokens?
relatively cheap so it is not expensive