Dealing with offending
behaviour: Behaviour
modification in custody
Behaviourist principles: Token economy:
• The reward that offenders
are given may include
Behaviourist approach assumes all behaviour is learned. exchanging tokens for: a
phone call, time in the gym
or exercise yard, extra
cigarettes or food.
This also implies that behaviour can be unlearned by applying
the same principles that brought it about in the first place. • Each one of these behaviours
and rewards would be made
clear to the prisoners before
Behaviour modification programmes aim to reinforce obedient the programme was started.
behaviour in offenders whilst punishing disobedience, with the • There would have also been
goal of killing off the disobedient behaviour and ensuring that emphasised that non-
the good behaviour continues.
compliance or
disobedience could result in
the tokens and associated
This is mostly done through a token economy system.
privileges, being withheld or
removed as a form of
punishment.
• Tokens are secondary
Changing behaviour:
reinforcers because they
derive their value from their
association with a reward.
The desirable behaviour is identified, broken down into
increments and a baseline measure is established.
Factors that need to be
established in order for the
All those who come into contact the offenders must follow the system to be set up:
same regime of selective reinforcement.
1. The desired behaviour must
be defined.
2. A variety of rewards must be
The whole programme can be overseen by prison
officials who can monitor the programme's effectiveness on given to encourage
both the management of the prison and the behaviour of participation.
individual offenders. 3. The reasons for token
allocation must be clear.
4. How many tokens that are
equivalent to a certain prize
need to be established.
5. The rate of earning token
must also be established.
behaviour: Behaviour
modification in custody
Behaviourist principles: Token economy:
• The reward that offenders
are given may include
Behaviourist approach assumes all behaviour is learned. exchanging tokens for: a
phone call, time in the gym
or exercise yard, extra
cigarettes or food.
This also implies that behaviour can be unlearned by applying
the same principles that brought it about in the first place. • Each one of these behaviours
and rewards would be made
clear to the prisoners before
Behaviour modification programmes aim to reinforce obedient the programme was started.
behaviour in offenders whilst punishing disobedience, with the • There would have also been
goal of killing off the disobedient behaviour and ensuring that emphasised that non-
the good behaviour continues.
compliance or
disobedience could result in
the tokens and associated
This is mostly done through a token economy system.
privileges, being withheld or
removed as a form of
punishment.
• Tokens are secondary
Changing behaviour:
reinforcers because they
derive their value from their
association with a reward.
The desirable behaviour is identified, broken down into
increments and a baseline measure is established.
Factors that need to be
established in order for the
All those who come into contact the offenders must follow the system to be set up:
same regime of selective reinforcement.
1. The desired behaviour must
be defined.
2. A variety of rewards must be
The whole programme can be overseen by prison
officials who can monitor the programme's effectiveness on given to encourage
both the management of the prison and the behaviour of participation.
individual offenders. 3. The reasons for token
allocation must be clear.
4. How many tokens that are
equivalent to a certain prize
need to be established.
5. The rate of earning token
must also be established.
