A01: Behaviour Modification

• Behaviourist Principles

  Undesirable behaviours can be unlearned

  • The behaviourist approach proposes that all behaviour is learned - and therefor it should be possible to unlearn behaviour using the same principles
  • Behaviour Modification programmes reinforce obedient behaviour whilst punishing disobedience.

  Behaviourism Approach
• Token Economy

  Type of behaviour modification

  Reinforce/punish

  • Based on operant conditioning - desirable inmate behaviours are rewarded (reinforced) with tokens.
  • DB may include: avoiding confrontation, being quiet in cell, following rules.
  • Tokens may also be removed = punishment
  • Hierarchical Scoring System when it comes to tokens

  Primary reinforcer (rewards) & Secondary reinforcer (tokens)

  1. Desirable/target behaviour identified
  2. DB operationalised (broken into individual components)
  3. Staff/inmates made aware of hierarchal scoring system
  4. Train staff to ensure standardisation.
• Tokens are secondary reinforcers


  • Tokens are not rewarding in themselves but regarding 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 components parts e.g. '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 & prisoners in advance
• Scoring System

  • Hierarchical Scoring System
  • Staff and prisoners should be made aware of how much each behaviour is worth in terms of token.
  • Behaviours are hierarchical, some are more demanding than others.
  • Tokens may be awarded directly or points may be awarded and converted to tokens
  • Reinforcements should outnumber punishments by a ration of 4:1 (Gendreau et al 2011)
• 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 to progress of individual prisoners can be assessed
• Operant Conditioning?

  Operant conditioning is based on the assumption that new behaviours are learnt through consequences.

  • Behaviours that are rewarded, either through receiving a reward (positive reinforcement) or removing something wanted (negative reinforcement) results in an increase in the expression of that behaviour.
  • Behaviours that are punished, either by receiving something undesirable (positive punishment) or by removing something wanted (negative punishment) results in a decrease in the expression of that behaviour.

  Principles of Operant Conditioning driven by Token Economy.
• Token Economy - How could it implemented effectively:

  How could it implemented effectively:

  • More +ve interactions with other inmates.
  • Don't touch when passing, speak politely etc
  • Don't touch: 1 token, speaking politely = 2 tokens
  • All staff know which inmates reviewed tokens &for which behaviours.
• Summary of Behaviour Modification in Custody?

  • Behaviourist Principles
  • Token Economies
  • Tokens are secondary reinforcers
  • Operationalise Target Behaviours
  • Scoring System
  • Train Staff
  • Operant Conditioning
  • How could TE be implemented effectively?