Behaviour Modification - Forensic Psychology
BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION..
- Behaviour modification is based on the principles of operant conditioning.
- This involves reinforcing desirable behaviour and extinguishing undesirable behaviour, through ‘token economy’ systems
- Token Economy involves reinforcing desirable behaviour by rewarding offenders with a ‘token’ (secondary reinforcer) that can be exchanged for primary reinforcers (eg. calls home)
- The offender’s progress is carefully monitored and their behaviour at the end of the programme is compared to the baseline measured prior to starting the programme to see if an improvement has been made.
- Behaviour modification is based on the principles of operant conditioning.
- This involves reinforcing desirable behaviour and extinguishing undesirable behaviour, through ‘token economy’ systems
- Token Economy involves reinforcing desirable behaviour by rewarding offenders with a ‘token’ (secondary reinforcer) that can be exchanged for primary reinforcers (eg. calls home)
- The offender’s progress is carefully monitored and their behaviour at the end of the programme is compared to the baseline measured prior to starting the programme to see if an improvement has been made.
Cullen and Seddon (1981) investigated behaviour
modification in young offenders. Boys in a young offenders’ institution were
reinforced using tokens which could be exchanged at the “shop” for sweets ect.
They found that those on the programme began to display more positive
behaviours over the duration of the study, suggesting operant conditioning can
be effective in modifying anti-social behaviour.
P: Token economy systems can successfully control behaviour in prison and for the duration of the programme
E: However, the benefits seem to be fairly short-lived and do not generalise beyond the institution setting
E: Therefore, in terms of BM, TE systems don’t have long term effects and therefore how useful are they?
P: Token economy systems can successfully control behaviour in prison and for the duration of the programme
E: However, the benefits seem to be fairly short-lived and do not generalise beyond the institution setting
E: Therefore, in terms of BM, TE systems don’t have long term effects and therefore how useful are they?
P: Although most studies show that the positive
effects of token economy stop after the treatment finishes, Cohen and Filipczak
(1971) showed that the benefits extended beyond the duration of the programme.
E: They compared 2 groups of young male prisoners: a token economy group, and a control group. They found that the treatment group were less likely to have reoffended 2 years after their treatment.
E: However, by 3 years later, the re-offending rates were the same, suggesting that behaviour modification doesn’t have long-lasting effects – but recidivism can be delayed!
E: They compared 2 groups of young male prisoners: a token economy group, and a control group. They found that the treatment group were less likely to have reoffended 2 years after their treatment.
E: However, by 3 years later, the re-offending rates were the same, suggesting that behaviour modification doesn’t have long-lasting effects – but recidivism can be delayed!
P: Token economy systems are controversial
E: They involved depriving prisoners of all non-essential items at the start of the programme (so they are motivated to ‘work’ for rewards)
E: However, Anger Management isn’t considered to be controversial – suggesting that it may be, to some extent, a superior form of treatment programme.
E: They involved depriving prisoners of all non-essential items at the start of the programme (so they are motivated to ‘work’ for rewards)
E: However, Anger Management isn’t considered to be controversial – suggesting that it may be, to some extent, a superior form of treatment programme.
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