NCJ Number
61937
Date Published
Unknown
Length
32 pages
Annotation
IN BOOKLET THREE OF THIS 17-PART, SELF-INSTRUCTIONAL SERIES FOR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, THE REASONS PEOPLE DO WHAT THEY DO ARE DISCUSSED; POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT CONCEPTS ARE HIGHLIGHTED.
Abstract
THIS PROGRAM CONSISTS OF INFORMATION ON MOTIVATING BEHAVIOR AND CONCEPTS RELATED TO BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. MATERIAL IS IN ILLUSTRATED NARRATIVE FORM, WITH FILL-IN AND SITUATIONAL QUESTIONS INCLUDED THROUGHOUT; CORRECT ANSWERS ARE PROVIDED IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE QUESTIONS WITH EXPLANATIONS WHERE NECESSARY. USERS SHOULD START AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOKLET, WORK STRAIGHT THROUGH, WRITE OR MARK ANSWERS AS DIRECTED, AND CHECK COMPLETED WORK. PEOPLE DO WHAT THEY DO BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING REINFORCED. LABOR IS REINFORCED WITH A WAGE; THEFT IS REINFORCED WITH MONEY AND GOODS STOLEN. JOB SATISFACTION AND RESPECT OF FRIENDS ARE ALSO REINFORCING FACTORS. OTHER COMMON REINFORCERS INCLUDE SEX, GOOD FOOD, AND NEW CLOTHES. WHEN PEOPLE DO SOMETHING FOR GAIN OR TO KEEP SOMETHING, POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT IS INVOLVED; NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT IS INVOLVED WHEN SOMETHING IS DONE TO ESCAPE OR AVOID UNDESIRABLE OUTCOMES. SOME BEHAVIORS ARE REINFORCED ON A CONTINUOUS REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULE, THAT IS THE REINFORCER IS DELIVERED EVERY TIME THE BEHAVIOR OCCURS. INTERMITTENT REINFORCEMENT ALSO IS POSSIBLE. ONE INTERMITTENT SCHEDULE CALLED A FIXED-RATIO SCHEDULE REQUIRES AN ACTOR TO DO SOMETHING A SET NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE THE REINFORCER IS EARNED. ANOTHER IS THE VARIABLE RATIO SCHEDULE IN WHICH REINFORCEMENT PATTERNS CHANGE FROM ONE TIME TO THE NEXT. (LWM)