NCJ Number
44497
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1977) Pages: 397-428
Date Published
1977
Length
32 pages
Annotation
LITERATURE ON THE TECHNIQUES AND EFFECTIVENESS OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TREATMENT PROGRAMS IS REVIEWED, AND CONCLUSIONS ARE DRAWN.
Abstract
THE REVIEW OPENS WITH A DISCUSSION OF PUBLISHED STUDIES RELATING TO SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES (POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT, SOCIAL REINFORCERS, THE TOKEN ECONOMY, SYSTEMS OF TIERS OR LEVELS, VICARIOUS LEARNING, NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT, PUNISHMENT, AVERSION AND COVERT SENSITIZATION, AND TIME OUT FROM THE SOURCE OF REINFORCEMENT). DESCRIPTIONS AND ASSESSMENTS OF FIVE MAJOR PROGRAMS THAT HAVE ATTEMPTED INTERVENTION THROUGH LARGE-SCALE BEHAVIORAL TECHNOLOGY ARE PROVIDED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE STUDIES REVIEWED SUPPORT AN OPTIMISTIC VIEW CONCERNING THE CAPACITY OF POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TO EFFECT CHANGE IN A CORRECTIONAL SETTING. HOWEVER, RESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS HAVE FAILED TO ASSESS THE EFFECTS OF SANCTIONS COMMONLY EMPLOYED IN PRISONS, E.G., THE COERCIVE POTENTIAL INHERENT IN THE THREAT OF SEGREGATION, THE LOSS OF 'GOOD TIME, THE WITHHOLDING OF RELEASE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PERSONS SERVING INDETERMINATE SENTENCES, ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSFERS, AND PRISON PAY. SUCH VARIABLES MAY AFFECT BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION EXPERIMENTS AND THE EVALUATION OF THEIR OUTCOMES. BEHAVIORAL SCIENTISTS HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE QUESTION OF COERCIVENESS IN TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR INMATES. RESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS HAVE NOT CONSIDERED THE CENTRAL ISSUE OF CRIMINAL REHABILITATION IN TERMS OF REDUCING THE FURTHER COMMITMENT OF ILLEGAL ACTS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.