PRELIMINARY RESPONSES TO A TOKEN ECONOMY PROGRAMME FOR DELINQUENT BOYS IN A RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL

• NCJ Number: 60641
• Journal: COMMUNITY HOME SCHOOLS GAZETTE Volume: 72 Issue: 3 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 96-110
• Author(s): B J BROWN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: Great Britain Dept of Health and Social Security
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

TO REDUCE THE LENGTH OF TIME SPENT BY DELINQUENT BOYS IN RESIDENTIAL CARE, A TOKEN ECONOMY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (TEMS) WAS IMPLEMENTED AT GILBEY HOUSE IN ENGLAND. WITH THE TEMS, EACH BOY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OWN BEHAVIOR.

Abstract

THE TEMS PROGRAM ENABLES BOYS TO EARN TOKENS BY ACHIEVING PERSONALIZED BEHAVIORAL TARGETS. TOKENS CAN BE EXCHANGED FOR A WIDE RANGE OF BACKUP REINFORCERS, SUCH AS EXTRA HOME LEAVE, SWEETS, TOYS, CIGARETTES, GAMES, PUZZLES, AND MODELING KITS. A TOKEN-EARNING SYSTEM IS EMPLOYED WHEREBY BOYS CARRY AROUND WITH THEM A TOKEN CARD SPECIFYING BEHAVIORAL TARGETS. TOKENS ARE STAMPED WHEN BOYS HAVE ACHIEVED PARTICULAR TARGETS. THE OVERALL TREND IN TEMS DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN TO EMPHASIZE PARTICIPATION BY CHILDREN THEMSELVES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR OWN PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR OWN CASE REVIEWS. DURING THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF TEMS OPERATION, GILBEY HOUSE WAS INVOLVED WITH 23 BOYS. EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL, AND BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES OF THESE BOYS WERE EVALUATED, AND TRENDS IN SEVERELY ACTING OUT BEHAVIORS, SUCH AS ABSCONDING AND OFFENDING THAT RESULTED IN FURTHER POLICE ACTION AND COURT APPEARANCE, WERE IDENTIFIED. RESPONSES OF THE 23 BOYS, IN TERMS OF IN-PROGRAM CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR AND BEHAVIOR AFTER DISCHARGE, INDICATED THAT ORIGINAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAM WERE GENERALLY ACHIEVED. CORRELATION BETWEEN RATES OF PUNISHMENT AND EARNINGS AND THE INCIDENCE OF OFFENSES LEADING TO POLICE ACTION SUGGESTED A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ABSCONDING BEHAVIOR AND MORE AND LESS SERIOUS ACTING OUT BEHAVIOR. THE USE OF BEHAVIORAL TECHNIQUES HAS INCREASED TO A MARKED EXTENT IN MANY TREATMENT SETTINGS IN ENGLAND AND ABROAD. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT PRACTITIONERS IN NORTH AMERICA HAVE DEVELOPED BEHAVIORAL TECHNOLOGY, PARTICULARLY THE TEMS, TO A SOPHISTICATED LEVEL. EQUALLY EVIDENT, HOWEVER, IS THE FACT THAT SUCH TECHNOLOGY IS BEING EMPLOYED IN PRACTICAL CONTEXTS AND THAT THE EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF SEVERELY CONDUCT-DISORDERED CHILDREN IS TIED TO CAREFUL EVALUATION OF PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS. SUPPORTING DATA ON THE GILBEY HOUSE STUDY AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.