Behaviour Modification

• •Behaviour modification programmes are applications of the behaviourist approach to treatment.•They are designed with the aim of reinforcing obedient behaviour in offenders in the hope that the behaviour will continue, whilst punishing disobedience in the hope that this will become extinct.•Therefore, they are based on the principles of operant conditioning.•The programmes allow effective management and monitoring of offenders during their sentence, as well as reduce the likelihood of recidivism.
• Behaviour modification in custody – token economy

  •Behaviour modification in prison is possible through the use of a token economy system that is based on the principle of operant conditioning. It can be managed by prison staff within the prison and can be implemented prison-wide or on selected individuals.•Tokens are given immediately each time offenders perform a desirable behaviour such as following prison rules, keeping their cells orderly and avoiding conflict.
• Behaviour Modification- Token Economy


  •Although these tokens have no value in themselves (secondary reinforcers – they derive their value from their association with a reward), they can be swapped later for more tangible rewards (primary reinforcers). For example, phone calls to a loved one, time in the gym, extra cigarettes or food.
• Token economy

  1. Rewards encourage desirable behaviour to be repeated

  2. Allows effective management and monitoring of offenders

  3. Reduces likelihood of recidivism

  4. Tokens and privileges can be removed for negative behaviour

  5. Behaviours changed in increments (shaping)

  6. Desirable behaviours broken down into small steps and reinforced a step at a time

  7. All those who come into contact with offenders must follow this same regime of selective reinforcement
• Eval- Easy To Implement 


  •The appeal of behaviour modification is that it is easy to administer.•There is no need for specialist professionals as there would be for other forms of treatment such as anger management.•They can be implemented by virtually anyone in any institution.•They are also cost-effective and easy to follow once workable methods of reinforcement have been established.
• Eval- Is It Ethical


  •Behaviour modification is regarded as manipulative and dehumanising by several critics.•Participation in the scheme is obligatory for all offenders rather than optional.•Additionally, some prisoners are not able to earn tokens because they can’t control their behaviour and so are denied basic privileges or even necessities.•
• Eval- Long Term Effectiveness


  •Any positive changes in behaviour that may occur whilst the offender is in prison may quickly be lost when they are released.•Cohen and Fitzpatrick (1971) found that offenders who took part in a token economy programme were less likely to reoffend than a control group two years later, but after three years, rates of recidivism were back to reflecting national statistics.
• Eval- Does It Work For All Offenders

  •Some people respond better to the programme than others.•Programmes with young delinquents have been reasonably successful, but there has been less success with violent offenders and those in maximum security psychiatric hospitals.