topic 6 - treatments to rehabilitate and reduce criminal and antisocial behaviour and increase prosocial behaviour

Question 1

what is a token economy programme?

Answer 1

A token economy is a programme which is used to obtain desirable behaviour i.e prosocial behaviour in closed institutions such as prisons and to decrease antisocial behaviour.

Question 2

what operant conditioning theory is the token economy programme based on?

Answer 2

The token economy is based on the operant conditioning theory of positive reinforcement where we give someone a reward for behaviour we look for and thus they are more willing to repeat that behaviour. In this programme, the token is used as a secondary reinforcer and can be traded for rewards and privileges.

Question 3

what are examples of prizes in token economies?

Answer 3

television privileges, extra communication with visitors, access to outside world food etc.

Question 4

what are strengths of the token economy programme?

Answer 4

1. Economical. Compared to other forms of rehabilitation which use counsellors or criminal psychologists, token programmes are economical, effective and easy to administer with both the tokens and the rewards.
2. There is evidence for short-term increase in pro social behaviour. A study conducted by Hobbs and Holt (1976) introduced token programmes in 3 prisons. They compared their results to control prison (didn’t use tokens), they found that targeted prosocial behaviour such as queuing in line for dinner correctly, cooperating and doing chores significantly increased.

Question 5

what are weaknesses of the token economy programme?

Answer 5

1. It is a short term method used to manage prison behaviour. The token economy programme is specifically designed to combat anti-social behaviour of offenders while they are in prison, not to reduce recidivism but there is a possibility of this happening as a result of adopting this programme.
2. Not applicable. Outside of the prison walls, token economies are not found, therefore, the prisoners prosocial behaviour may only be limited to the institutions environment, so there is a limited rehabilitative value.

Question 6

what is the anger management programme?

Answer 6

it refers to the programme designed as a form of rehabilitation for offenders who have committed violent crimes as a result of their emotions.

Question 7

what does the treatment involve?

Answer 7

it involves working with a therapist in small groups. The offender must identify their triggers to angry outbursts, to find ways of coping with their feelings.

Question 8

how many steps are there in the anger management programme and identify them.

Answer 8

3 steps: cognitive preparation, skills acquisition and application practice.

Question 9

what is the FIRST step of the anger management programme?

Answer 9

Cognitive preparation: this is where an offender has to reflect on their own anger such as what makes them angry, why they feel angry and how feeling angry may be counter-productive.

Question 10

what is the SECOND step of the anger management programme?

Answer 10

Skills acquisition: this is where an offender learns new skills to help them control their anger. This can be through learning relaxation techniques (deep breathing, muscle tensing) or assertiveness training (where they can voice their opinion or point without resorting to anger)

Question 11

what is the THIRD step of the anger management programme?

Answer 11

Application practice: This involves role playing anger triggering situations so that the offender can practice new skills.

Question 12

what are the strengths of the anger management programme?

Answer 12

there are no strengths…….
there is contradictory evidence in Serin et als experiment (1999) and Howells et al experiment (2005)

1. offenders are selected when entering anger management which means that they are definitely being treated for their emotions instead of having all criminals entering anger management.

Question 13

what are the weaknesses of the anger management programme?

Answer 13

1. it assumes that there is a link between anger and violent crimes but not all violent crimes are committed due to anger, some violent criminals can be cold and calculating.
2. Offenders can abuse the programme. The programme teaches offenders how to control and manage their anger, a skill that may later be used to commit crimes more effectively. Criminals may become more dangerous than they were when they entered anger management because they were taught to control and suppress their emotions helping them manipulate others more effectively.

Question 14

what are examples of relaxation techniques?

Answer 14

Music tends to help as a deep relaxation technique which has been extremely effective for coping with stress and anxiety. So one method would be to create an anger playlist on a music platform, so instead of taking your anger out on your environment or expressing it yourself, let the music do it for you.

Another technique would be to use progressive muscle relaxation. While inhaling, contract one muscle group for 5 seconds to 10 seconds, then exhale and suddenly release the tension in that muscle group. Give yourself 10 seconds to 20 seconds to relax, and then move on to the next muscle group. While releasing the tension, try to focus on the changes you feel when the muscle group is relaxed.