behaviour modification in custody

• behaviourist principles -

  • behaviour modification programmes designed with aim of reinforcing obedient behaviour in offenders whilst punishing disobedience - hope that the former continues and the latter dies out
• token economy -

  • based on operant conditioning
  • desirable behaviour in prison may be following rules, clean cell ect - given token each time desired behaviour is formed
  • each behaviour and reward made clear to prisoners before programme is implemented
  • non-compliance or disobedience means tokens (and associated privileges) being withheld or removed (punishment)
  • secondary reinforcers - tokens derive value from their association with a reward
• designing and using token economy -

  • operationalise target behaviours - by breaking it down into component parts - units of behaviour should be objective and measurable
  • scoring system - behaviours are hierarchical - some are more demanding than others so receive greater rewards - reinforcements should outnumber punishments by ratio of 4:1
  • train staff - prison staff given full training to implement token economy system successfully - aim is to standardise the procedures so all prison stage are rewarding the same behaviours the same way