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Forensic
Dealing with Offending Behaviour
Behaviour Modification - Token Economy
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Tom Chaplin
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Evaluation
Psychology > Forensic > Dealing with Offending Behaviour > Behaviour Modification - Token Economy
6 cards
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Behaviour modification
A therapeutic technique used to increase or decrease the
frequencies
of behaviour using
operant conditioning
Operant Conditioning
Learning through
reinforcement
or
punishment
If a behaviour is followed by a
desirable
consequence, then that behaviour is more likely to be
performed
Token Economy
A form of therapy where desirable behaviours are encouraged by the use of
selective reinforcements
Rewards (Tokens) are given as
secondary
reinforcers when individuals engage in correct /
socially desirable
behaviours
These can be exchanged or
primary reinforcers
- food and privileges
Ayllon and Azrin (1961)
Developed the
Token economy
system
The unlearning of
undesirable
behaviour is possible by reinforcing
obedience
and punishing disobedience
Desirable behaviours are rewarded with
tokens
, which can be exchanged for
rewards
(eg cigarettes)
Token economy - a system of
exchange
of goods (economy) based on tokens
Reinforcement
Punishment
Shaping
Reinforcement of new behaviours
Prisoners are given
tokens
when they perform
desirable
behaviours such as making their bed or obeying their orders
These tokens can be used to buy goods of their choice:
tobacco
, food, tv time
Items purchased act as
reinforcers
, increasing the likelihood of the desirable behaviour being repeated -
operant conditioning
Food =
primary
reinforcer
tokens =
secondary
reinforcer
Punishment
If
undesirable
behaviour is observed, tokens can be removed as a form of
punishment
Shaping
A process by which
tokens
are given for
behaviour
that progressively becomes more
complex
This happens by reinforcing successive improvements of behaviour
This is a process whereby the tokens are given for
progressive
behaviours that are
unique
to an
individual
- rather than the same reward for all
Hobbs and Holt (1976)
Introduced
token economy
programme with groups of
young delinquents
across three behavioural units (with a fourth control unit)
Observed a
significant
difference in positive behaviour compared to the non-token economy group
A similar effect was found with offenders in an adult prison (
Allyon et al
1979)
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