behaviour modification

Question 1

what is behaviour modification

Answer 1

Behaviour modification is a behavioural therapy which uses operant conditioning techniques to encourage positive behaviours.

Question 2

token economy:

Answer 2

Token economy is a form of behaviour modification which is sometimes used by the criminal justice system.

Token economy uses positive reinforcement in the form of secondary reinforcers. Secondary reinforcers (tokens) are gained when a person displays
desirable behaviours. Desirable behaviour in prison is likely to include avoiding conflict, following prison rules, keeping your cell orderly etc.

Tokens can then be exchanged for primary reinforcers (intrinsic reward). They may include extra phone calls, extra visits, special food etc.

The desirable behaviour and available rewards are made clear to the prisoners before they start the programme. It is also emphasised that non-compliance or disobedience will result in the tokens being withheld (negative punishment).

All those who come into contact with the offender must follow the same regime of selective reinforcement, a particular prisoner is rewarded for particular actions.

The whole programme is overseen by a prison official who is able to monitor the programme’s effectiveness on the management of the prison as a whole, as well
as on the behaviour of individual offenders.

Question 3

Token economy eval (+)

Answer 3

+ Token economy is easy to administer and can be applied by almost anyone as it does not require expert professionals or specialised equipment. Token economy is also cost-effective and easy to follow once the method of reinforcement has been established.

Question 4

Token economy eval (-)

Answer 4

• Token economy doesn’t work if staff are not consistent. Sometimes lack of appropriate training or high staff turnover make consistency problematic.
• Behaviour modification can only be used in controlled environment. Any positive behavioural change that occurs while the prisoner is incarcerated are quickly lost once the prisoner is released. This is because law-abiding behaviour is not always reinforced on the outside and the rewards that result from breaking the law may be powerful. It could also be because offenders are merely ‘playing along’ with the scheme to get the rewards, and not really
  learning to change their behaviour.
• Critics of token economy have suggested that it is unethical. In some prisons participation in the scheme is obligatory. Although ultimately the offender can
  decide whether or not to obey the rules or break them, the withdrawal of privileges such as exercise and contact with loved ones can be physically and
  psychologically harmful.
• Behaviour modification only deals with surface behaviour. Other treatments go deeper and require offenders to reflect on the cause of their offending and
  take responsibility for their rehabilitation.