Behaviour modification

• Behaviour modification

  It aims to reinforce obedient behaviour in offenders and punish disobedience in the hope that the former continues and the later becomes extinct. This is based upon operant conditioning principles
• Behavioural modification is based on the principles of the behaviourist approach - if all behaviour is learnt, it can be unlearnt
• A Token Economy System is a form of behaviour modification managed and coordinated by prison staff - all inmates within the institution would be expected to adhere
• Hobbs and Holt (1976)

  • Introduced this system to a group of young delinquents across 3 behavioural units and compared it to a fourth control group
  • They found a significant difference in positive behaviour compared to the non-token economy control group
  • Findings also been found in adult prison by Allyon et al(1979)
• Establishing behaviour to reward

  1. The desirable behaviour is identified
  2. Behaviour is then broken down into small steps (increments)
  3. A baseline measure is established
  4. Behaviour to be reinforced are decided - all staff who come into contact with offenders must follow the same regime of selective reinforcement
• Reinforcers

  • Primary reinforcer - the reward
  • Secondary reinforcer - token
• Reward examples

  • phone call home
  • Time in the gym
  • Extra cigarettes
• Desirable behaviour examples

  • Avoiding conflict
  • Following rules
  • Keeping the cell orderly
• Desirable behaviour results in rewards which can then be exchanged for rewards