BM

Question 1

Research Support

Answer 1

Research support for the effectiveness of behaviour modification techniques comes from Hobbs and Holt (1976) who observed a token economy at a state training school for adolescent delinquents (aged 12–15 years). In total 125 delinquent males were observed living in four cottages. One cottage served as a control group where the boys did not receive tokens. They found that after token economy was used, there was an increase in the mean percentages for social behaviours. For example, in one cottage social behaviours
increased from 66% to 91% after the token economy system. In contrast, the control group showed no increase in the same time period. The results suggest that it was the Token Economy Programme, which was responsible for the improvement in the behaviour, offering support for the effectiveness of behaviour modification as a way of dealing with offending behaviour.

Question 2

Little rehabilitative value

Answer 2

one limitation of behaviour modification in custody is that
Blackburn (1993) believes that behaviour modification has little rehabilitative value. This is because although in the short term, a token economy can improve behaviour in the prison environment, the bigger question is whether such a system can have long-term effects on
offenders and reduce recidivism. This can be understood within the principles of operant conditioning. Once rewards cease, the stimulus-response link is extinguished because law-abiding behaviour is not always reinforced on the outside. Another reason it might not work in the long term, is because the rewards the offender receives from breaking the law, such as group status, may be more powerful. This suggests that behaviour modification is really only
effective in the short term whilst the prisoner is in custody.

Question 3

Ethical Issues

Answer 3

Probably the major criticism with token economy systems is the violation of human rights, because individuals’ behaviour is being manipulated, not always with their
agreement. An objection is that basic needs are conditional on good behaviour (such as food or visiting rights) which is problematic as some prisoners are not able to earn tokens because they cannot control their behaviour, and thus they are denied such privileges or even
necessities. In addition, the use of punishment to remove tokens is unethical and counter to the goals of rehabilitation. This suggests that ethical issues should be considered when
implementing a behaviour modification programme in prison.