Behaviour modification

• What is behaviour modification?

  following the behaviourist approach, it should be possible to encourage the unlearning of behaviour by applying the same principles that brought it about in the first place. These programmes aim to reinforce obedient behaviour in offenders instead of punishing disobedience. This is made possible in prison through a ‘token economy system’.
• token economy systems

  these are based on principles of operant conditioning. They reinforce desirable behaviour with a token to be exchange for some kind of reward. In a prison, a desirable behaviour is likely to include avoiding conflict, following prison rules, and keeping a cell tidy. Prisoners are given a token for each time they perform a desirable behaviour.
• changing behaviour using these programmes

  desirable behaviour is identified and broken down into small steps called increments. Then, a baseline measure is established. the whole programme must be overseen by prison officials who can monitor the programmes effectiveness and the behaviour of individuals.
• research example

  Hobbs and Holt introduced a token economy programme using groups of youth delinquants across 3 behavioural units, as well as a control group. They observed a significant different in positive behaviour compared to the non token economy group.

  Allyon et al found a similar effects with offenders in an adult prison.
• positive

  easy to implement - there is no need for specialist professionals. Token-economy systems can be implemented by almost anyone in any institution. It is cost-effective and easy to follow.
• negative

  ethical issues - the terms and conditions of behaviour modification are regarded as manipulative and dehumanising. Participation is obligatory for all offenders. However, human rights campaigners argue that the withdrawal of ‘privileges’ is unethical.