behaviour modification (dealing with offending behaviour)

• behaviourist principles/approach

  • behaviourist approach = proposes that all behaviour is learned
  • => it should be possible to unlearn behaviour using the same principles
  • undesirable behaviours can be unlearned
  • behaviour modification programmes reinforce obedient behaviour whilst punishing disobedience
• token economy

  • based on operant conditioning = desirable inmate behaviours are rewarded/reinforced with tokens
  • desirable behaviours include = avoiding confrontation, being quiet in the cell, following rules
  • tokens may also be removed = punishment
• tokens are secondary reinforces

  • tokens are not rewarding in themselves but rewarding because they can be exchanged for something desirable (primary reinforcer)
  • primary reinforcers = a phone call to a loved one, time in the gym, extra cigarettes or food
• operationalise target behaviours

  • target behaviours are operationalised by breaking them down into compartments
  • eg = 'interaction with other prisoners' may be broken down into = 'speaking politely to others', 'not touching others', etc
  • each 'unit' of behaviour should be objective and measurable and agreed with staff and prisoners in advance
• scoring system

  • staff and prisoners should be made aware of how much each behaviour is worth in terms of tokens
  • behaviours are hierarchal, some are more demanding than others
  • tokens may be awarded directly OR points may be awarded and converted to tokens
  • Gendreau et al = reinforcements should outnumber punishments by a ratio of 4:1
• train staff

  • prison staff receive full training
  • aim is to standardise procedures = so all prison staff reward the same behaviours
  • keep record of what tokens awarded so progress of individual prisoners can be assessed
• strength = research support

  • Hobbs and Holt = studied young offenders, those taking part in a token economy programme showed more positive behaviours
  • Field et al = found some young offenders didn't respond but did if rewards were more immediate, frequent and positive
  • suggests that token economy systems do work
• counterpoint to research support

  • Bassett and Blanchard = found that any benefits were lost if the staff applied the techniques inconsistently due to lack of training or because of high staff turnover (an issue in many UK prisons)
  • suggest that behaviour modification schemes may not be as straightforward to implement as they first appear
• strength = behaviour modification easy to implement

  • BM doesn't need a specialist professional involved - unlike other forms of treatment (eg anger management)
  • token economy systems can be designed and implemented by virtually anyone
  • they are cost effective and easy to follow once methods have been established
  • suggests that BM techniques can be established in most prisons and accessed by most prisoners
• limit = little rehabilitative value

  • some treatments (eg anger management) are longer lasting because they involve understanding causes of, and taking responsibility for, own behaviour
  • in contrast = offenders can play along with a token economy system to access awards, but this produces little change in the overall character
  • this may explain why, once the token economy is discontinued, an offender may quickly regress back to their former behaviour
• extra evaluation = ethical issues

  • BM has been associated with decreased conflict, more successful management of prisoners and reduced stress for prison staff in a potentially hostile environment
  • BUT = critics describe BM as manipulative and dehumanising
  • human rights campaigners argue that the withdrawal of 'privileges' is unethical
  • suggests that the question of whether BM is successful may depend on whose perspective -prison or prison staff