Behavioural Treatments & Therapies
Psychology: AQA A Level, topic 16.1.15
Token Economy for Behavioural Treatment of Prison Inmates
The token economy is a system of rewards based on the principles of operant conditioning. The concept is to modify behaviour and promote good behaviour by providing tokens.
Operant conditioning
- Operant conditioning is based on the principles of reinforcement of behaviour deemed appropriate or good and punishments for behaviour deemed inappropriate or bad.
- The token economy, used with various groups like school children and prison inmates, is based on these principles.
- Good behaviour is rewarded with tokens for meeting specific goals of behaviour.
- Tokens can be saved up and spent to gain rewards.
Effectiveness
- The token economy must be completely adhered to for it to be effective.
- Several rules have to be put in place for it to be successful.
Rules
- No other rewards or tokens outside of the system should be given, otherwise the tokens would have no value.
- The ‘good’ behaviour that the prison wants inmates to have must be clearly defined.
- To encourage participation, a selection of rewards must be put in place to appeal to the majority of inmates.
Rules cont.
- Inmates must be told specifically the reasons behind receiving tokens.
- The token:reward value must be clearly established.
- For example, how many tokens does it take to receive a bag of crisps.
- The amount of tokens received for particular behaviours must also be clearly addressed.
- For example, keeping your cell neat and tidy will earn you 5 tokens.
Token Economy Evaluation
The programme has strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths
- The programme has been seen as a success by studies such as Milan and McKee (1976).
- They studied a block of inmates who participated in three conditions:
- Those that underwent normal prison methods.
- Those that underwent a system of behaviour modification with no tokens.
- Those that underwent a full token economy.
Milan and McKee (1976) findings
- Milan and McKee (1976) found that monitored behaviours like getting up on time and keeping their cell tidy did best in the full token economy.
Weaknesses
- A weakness is the short lasting effects of the token economy.
- A study by Kirigin et al. (1982) examined a token economy put in place with juvenile delinquents.
- The programme was effective during the course of the programme.
- However the rates of criminal behaviour (such as truancy) returned to the control level rates after the programme was complete.
Ethical issues
- Another weakness would be the ethical issues raised by the implementation of a token economy.
- It could be considered unethical to withhold things like food and water.
- For a token economy to work best in a prison environment, withholding those items may be necessary.
- However, food and drink, to most people, are considered a right and not a privilege.
Anger Management as Therapy
Anger management is a therapy whereby participants are taught to control their aggression and anger. It has been used to treat violent criminals.
Therapy
- Anger management is a form of cognitive behavioural therapy.
- The participants are taught to identify their anger and aggression.
Role of the therapist
- The therapist helps the participant to challenge their anger and aggression.
- The therapist works with them to prevent their angry thoughts from turning into aggressive behaviours.
- They also teach simple acts like counting to 10 and breathing exercises to help control the anger.
Anger and crime
- The participants are taught to control their anger to decrease their levels of violence.
- It works on the principle that aggression and anger lead to violent criminal acts.
- Therefore reducing the former, reduces the latter.
Goals
- The ultimate goal is to reduce violent acts committed by the prisoner both in and out of prison.
- Prisoners need to be made more self-aware and have better control.
- This could also reduce the likelihood of recidivism.
The program
- The therapy has been specifically tailored to prison.
- Generally, the course has weekly two-hour sessions for 8 weeks.
- Throughout the week, the prisoners are encouraged to keep track of their behaviours, thoughts and emotions.
- By becoming aware of changes in these thoughts and emotions, it is hoped that they will have more control over them.
Test yourself on Behavioural Treatments & Therapies
What is NOT a necessary rule for a token economy to be successful?
Which study concluded that token economies were successful?
Anger management is a form what kind of therapy?
What is NOT something taught by anger management therapy?