Behaviour modification and anger management

Behaviour modification

An application of the behaviourist approach to treatment (such as the management of offenders in the penal system).

It is based on the principles of operant conditioning. The general aim is to replace undesirable behaviours with more desirable ones through the selective use of positive and/or negative reinforcement

Behaviourist principles

• if everything is learned then it should be possible to encourage unlearning through the principles that caused the learning

• reinforce obedient behaviours and punishing disobedient ones

• made possible through a token economy system

Token economy

• based on operant conditioning

• good behaviour = 1 token

• 1 token = a reward, 100 tokens = bigger reward etc.

• positive reinforcement though a secondary reinforcer

  • secondary reinforcer derives its value from the reward it is associated with

  • e.g. token doesn’t mean anything but ten tokens will get chocolate

Token economy in a prison

• desirable behaviour likely to include

  • avoiding conflict

  • keeping cell tidy

  • obeying wardens rules and commands

  • avoiding physical interaction with other prisoners

• the reward that the token will buy will vary between institutions but will be a luxury such as:

  • extra food or cigarettes

  • phone time

  • extended time outside

  • time in the gym

• prisoners will be made aware of the available rewards as an incentive to behave

Tokens as a punishment

• taken away or withheld for disobedient behaviour

• associated rewards can also be withheld or withdrawn

Changing behaviour

• behaviour must be changes systematically

  1. identify behaviour that needs to be changed

  2. break behaviour down into small steps (increments)

  3. establish a baseline measure (where are they with that behaviour rn?)

• behaviours to be reinforced are decided upon and everyone who comes into contact with that prisoner must reinforce that behaviour in the same way

• called a regime of selective reinforcement

AO3 - research evidence

EV = Hobbs and Holt (1976) - introduced token economy system to group of young delinquents across 3 behavioural units (fourth as control) - sig.diff in positive behaviour

EXT = Allyon et al (1979) repeated experiment with adults and found similar results

AO3 - easy to implement

P = easy to implement

EX = really fast, easy, can be done with any resources

EV = + evidence from book

C = however this rewards the same behaviour for everyone where people may need to be rewarded for different behaviours - individually tailored approaches are most effective - time consuming and effective, requires specialist training

LB = need to balance cost and effect

AO3 - little rehabilitative value

P = Weakness = passive token learning

EV = + Hobbs and Holt

EX = deals with superficial behaviour, not the root cause - does not look at why offenders are seeking violent methods - easy way of controlling inmates, not changing their behaviour

EXT = means there is little rehabilitative value - can easily be reversed when outside and there are no rewards for the behaviours

AO3 - ethical issues

P = ethical issues

EX = ethically is it right to used this theory to manipulate and control a vulnerable community

Anger management

A therapeutic program that involves identifying the signs that trigger anger as well as learning techniques to calm down and deal with the situation in a positive way

• aim is to recognise and manage anger, not prevent it

• used in prisons to prevent conflict, avoid confrontation, encourage self-awareness and facilitate rehabilitation of violent offenders

Cognitive Behaviour Treatment

• Raymond Novaco (1975)

• suggested cog. factors are the trigger for the emotional arousal that leads to aggressive acts

• argues that some people are quicker to anger in anxiety-inducing or threatening situations

• behaviourist psychology would suggest that becoming angry is reinforced by the individuals feeling of control over the situation

• anger management programs are therefore a form of CBT

  • an individual is taught how to recognise when they are losing control and then encouraged to develop techniques which resolve the conflict, without leading to violence

3 stages

1. cognitive preparation

2. skill acquisition

3. application practice

1. Cognitive preparation

• requires offender to reflect on their past experience and consider typical patterns of behaviour they exhibit

• offender works to identify situational triggers and if their response to that is irrational, the therapist will explain this

• the therapist redefining these situations as non-threatening breaks an automatic response from the offender

2. Skill acquisition

• offender is then given series of tools, techniques and skills to help them deal with anger-provoking situations more rationally and effectively

• techniques may be cognitive, behavioural or physiological

  • cognitive - positive self-talk to encourage calmness

  • behavioural - assertiveness training to communicate better

  • physiological - relaxation training and meditation

3. Application Practice

• offenders given the opportunity to practice the skills they have learnt in carefully controlled environments

• may be through role play with their therapists; re enacting their trigger scenarios from the past

• if role play is successful, the behaviour will be positively reinforced

Research example

Julia Keen et al (2000)

• studied progess made by young offenders (17-21) who were registered onto a nationally recognised anger management course

• 8, 2 hour sessions. 7 over 3 weeks, the final one 1 month later

• initial issues with offenders not taking the course seriously and forgetting to bring equipment

• final results suggested outcomes were positive, with offenders reporting an increased awareness of their anger management difficulties and increased self-control

AO3 - strength - eclectic approach + safe

P
A strength of anger management programmes is that they take an eclectic approach.

EV
In stage 1, anger management uses a cognitive approach, in stage 2 it uses a behavioural approach to acquire coping skills, and a social approach is used in the practical application in stage 3.

EX
This recognises that offending behaviour is the complex interaction between social and psychological factors, which important in the customisation for effective treatments.

EXT
In addition to this, AM programmes have benefits for the prison staff and other prisoners when used in prison environment as they have the potential to reduce aggression and violence within the prison setting. This will have benefits for the prisoners themselves as they may feel safer in the prison and won't be exposed to hostile environments that may influence their behaviour.

LB
Consequently, AM can be seen as a successful multidisciplinary technique in reducing anger and aggression which can benefit the individual and society in reducing recidivism.

AO3 - weakness - ineffective + casual

P
One limitation of anger management is that it isn't effective for everyone.

EX
Some offenders don't like to reflect on their way of thinking, and may drop out of the programme, or if the offender's criminality is caused by some sort of biological factor, like anti-personality disorder, the treatment will be ineffective.

EV
For example, if violent and impulsive behaviour is due to defects in neurotransmitter levels, as Brunner suggests, then SSRI's or drug therapies would be a more effective way of modifying the behaviour.

EXT
Furthermore, AM proposes that anger is the root cause of crime, which has been questioned by psychologists Loza and Loza-Fanous. They found that in a sample of over 300 males in prison, there was no difference in the levels of violent and non-violent prisoners and argued that AM programmes can result in offenders blaming their crimes on anger which removes responsibility for their actions.

LB
This suggests that anger does not always lead to aggression, and that anger management is not the cure for all aggressive behaviour and is perhaps only suitable for those with cognitive distortions.

AO3 - weakness - short term, expensive, commitment

P
As well as this, it can be argued that anger management has limited long term effectiveness.

EV
Follow up studies of anger management tend not to support the assumption that anger management, and Blackburn (1993) pointed out that, whilst anger management may have a noticeable effects on the conduct of offenders in the short term, there is very little evidence that it reduces recidivism in the long term.

EX
This may be because the application phase of treatment still relies heavily on artificial role play which does not reflect the reality of a triggering situation, and therefore lacks ecological validity.

EXT
Anger management also requires specially trained staff to deal with violent offenders, which mean it may be expensive to run, and require active commitment of the participant. This means that if the prisoners are uncooperative and apathetic, the treatment is unlikely to work.

LB
As a result of this, it could be argued that AM is an ineffective technique that has limited value in real-life situations, and is a waste of already limited funds and resources.