behavioural tactics - token economies Flashcards
(5 cards)
what are token economies?
Token economies are based on the psychological concept of behaviour modification. Token economies utilise operant conditioning to direct behaviour. This is done by rewarding positive behaviour and punishing negative behaviour. It aims to increase desirable behaviours and decrease undesirable behaviour.
In a typical token economy programme, the institutional management draws up a list of behaviours they wish to promote. This happens in prison in an attempt to control behaviour.
what are the examples of the desired behaviour and how token economies reinforce behaviour?
For instance, the desired behaviour may to be: Follow all rules, keep clean, keep cell clean, no fighting, no intimidation, no further criminal activity, be industrious e.g have a job.
Rewards good take many forms such as: Extra-visiting hours, Luxury items etc.
When an offender carries out one of the targeted behaviours they are given a token. Tokens may later be exchanged for other reinforcers such as money to spend in the prison shop, access to television etc.
The rationale is that through selective reinforcement, desirable behaviour will be encouraged and undesirable behaviour extinguished.
what are the strengths of token economies?
The Prison Reform Trust state that token economies
“promote conforming behaviour through rational choice. Enabling people to earn benefits in exchange for responsible behaviour encourages prisoners to engage with sentence planning and ensures a more disciplined and controlled environment which is safer for staff and prisoners.”
These policies are effective in increasing positive behaviours in some prisoners, e.g attacks on officers dropped by 80% and those on inmates by a third in Feltham young offenders when given sweets for good behaviour.
what are the weaknesses of token economies?
Fo and O’Donnell (1975) devised a ‘buddy system’ in which adult volunteers were assigned to a young offender to provide consistent reinforcement for socially acceptable ways of acting. While it appeared to have improved the behaviour of serious offenders, its impact on those who had committed less serious offences was mixed.
Evidence regarding the effectiveness of token economies suggests that they have short-term effectiveness with both young offenders (Hobbs & Holt, 1976) and adult offenders (Allyon & Milan, 1979). However, the improvements tend not to have an impact beyond the institution e.g. after release.
how does this achieve social control?
Helps gain positive/ desirable behaviour through operant conditioning.
Helps rehabilitate prisoners
