dealing with offending behaviour: behaviour modification in custody

What is Behaviour modification

An application of the behaviourist approach to treatment. It is based on the principles of operant conditioning. The general aim is to replace undesirable bvrs with more desirable ones through the selective use of positive and negative reinforcement

Behaviourist principles

According to behaviourists all human behaviour is learnt. In which it should be possible to encourage the unlearning of behaviour.

Bvr modification programs are designed with the aim of reinforcing obedient behaviour and bvr will continue in offenders, whilst punishing disobedience in the hope that the former continues and the latter dies out (bvr becomes extinct )

Token economy

Bvr modification programmes such as token economy are based on operant conditioning. In token economy prisoners are given a token each time they perform prisoners are given a token each tine they perform a desirable behaviour. Each of these bvrs and rewards would be made clear to the prisoners before the programme Is implemented

It would also be emphasised that disobiednt bvr may result in the tome being taken away or withheld. Tokens are not rewarding in themesleves but derive their value from association with a reward and this are called secondary reinforcers

Designing and using token economy

Operationalise target behaviours - a target bvr is operationalised by breaking down into components (eg; the target bvr may be improved interaction with other prison inmates. This may be broken down into speaking to others politely

Scoring system - bvrs are hierarchal in the sense that some are regarded as more demanding than others so receive greater rewards. We might award tokens to ‘ working co operatively on a group task ‘ than ‘ not swearing’

Training staff - the aim is to standardise the procedures so that prison staff are rewarding the same bvrs in the same way so it is important to train staff in order to implement token economy

Relatively straightforward to set up

P. One strength of bvr modification is that it is relatively straightforward to set up in custody

E. The appeal of behaviour modification rests largely upon the ease which it can be administered. There is no need for a specialist professional to be involved as there would be for other forms of treatment such as anger management

E. Rather, token economy systems can be designed and implemented by virtually anyone in any institution. They are also cost effective

L. This suggests that bvr modification techniques can be established in most prisons and accessed by ost prisoners

H. The consistency of how well it is used to differ between those who lead it

Affect long term behaviour

P. One limitation of behaviour modification is that it may not affect long term behaviour

E. Blackburn said bvr modification has ‘little rehabilitative value’ and any positive changed in bvr that may occur whilst in prison may quickly be lost when they are released due to. More cognitive based treatments such as anger management, may be more likely to lead to permanent behavioural change

E. In contrast offenders can fairly easily play along with a token economy system in order to access the rewards but this produces little change in their overall character

L. This may explain why, once the token economy is discontinued, an offender may quickly regress back to their former bvr

H. TE could be used in prison and a different support upon release

Evidence to support

P. One strength of bvr modification is that it has evidence to support it

E. Tom Hobbs and Micheal holt introduced a token economy with groups of young offenders across three behavioural units

E. They observed a significant difference in positive behaviour compared to the non token economy group

L. This suggests that token economy systems do work

H. Still a number of younger people who don’t respond especially if it isn’t used correctly