2.4.1.2 - Behaviour modification + Learning theories

• Behaviour modification focuses on techniques to get rid of undesirable behaviour and replace it with desirable behaviour
• It depends on the idea that behaviour that is reinforced is repeated and behaviour that is not reinforced is not repeated
• Token economy system is a method used in prisons as a form of behaviour modification
• Token economy system

  Where a token is given for a desired action and can later be traded in for a reward like a phone call to a family member or sweets
• Anger management aims to avoid violent offences taking place by people unable to control their anger
• Novaco (1975) suggests that because offenders cannot deal effectively with their anger, it tends to be expressed in anti-social and often violent ways
• Anger management

  Cognitive behavioural techniques are used to help offenders deal more effectively with their feelings of anger
• Social skills training


  Aims to improve skills in order to avoid offending and become more socially competent
• Some studies show an improvement in behaviour, but once the reinforcement stops the behaviours tend to disappear
• Offenders tend to return to crime more slowly after behaviour modification
• Token economies also make prisoners more manageable whilst in prison
• Evidence (Hobbs & Holt, 1976) regarding the effectiveness of token economies suggest that they have short term-effectiveness with young offenders
• Allyon & Milan (1979) suggests that token economies have short term effectiveness with adult offenders
• The improvements tend not to generalise beyond the institution in the longer term in both child and adult offenders
• Anger management can be effective if resourced correctly
• When training stops, the benefit from it can be forgotten and even totally disappear in the long term