Based on behaviourist theory, where desirable behaviours are learnt through reward and punishment
Token Economies
Application of operant conditioning principles, reinforcing and punishing behaviours, acting as secondary reinforcers through token exchange to gain privileges
Hobbs + Holt (1976)
Observed token economy at Alabama Boys Industrial School, 125 male delinquents were observed in 4 different cottages, one of which was a control that did not recieve tokens
Found significant increase in social behaviours by 27% compared to no increase in control group
(+) A03: Easy and Effective
Doesn't require special skills to implement token economies, providing a mean of controlling unmanageable behaviour and improving prison environments, does require pre-planning and consistency
(-) A03: Moya (1974)
Seen as manipulative and interferes with basic human rights, can be unethical to make basic needs dependent on tokens, may be better ways of controlling behaviour
(-) A03: Reintegration
Doesnt allow offenders to reintegrate back into society, can be hard for them to cope without TES meaning more likely to reoffend
