BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAM FOR ADULT PROBATIONERS

• NCJ Number: 51123
• Author(s): R M DOCTOR; R L POLAKOW
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 2 pages
• Corporate Author: American Psychological Assoc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PROCEEDINGS OF THE 81ST ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, MONTREAL, CANADA 1973

Annotation

THE UTILITY OF A BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAM DERIVED FROM THE PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY IS EXAMINED IN RELATION TO THE EFFECT ACHIEVED WITH A TRADITIONAL PROBATION APPROACH.

Abstract

THE DESIGN OF THE STUDY FOLLOWED AN EXPERIMENTAL-CONTROL FORMAT IN WHICH RESULTS ACHIEVED FOR EACH SUBJECT WHILE ON INTENSIVE PROBATION SUPERVISION (ONCE-A-MONTH CONTACT) WERE COMPARED WITH SUBSEQUENT CHANGES PRODUCED BY A CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM DERIVED FROM THE PRINCIPLES OF OPERANT CONDITIONING. THE SUBJECTS CONSISTED OF 26 PROBATIONERS, 15 FEMALES AND 11 MALES WHO HAD SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 12.5 MONTHS ON PROBATION BEFORE ENTERING THE PROGRAM. TRANSFER TO THE PROGRAM WAS INITIATED BY THE PROBATION OFFICER AFTER HE ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTY IN WORKING WITH THE PROBATIONER. THE CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM INVOLVED THREE PHASES: (1) WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH THE PROBATION OFFICER, WITH POINT CREDITS RECEIVED FOR PROMPT ATTENDANCE, POLITENESS, AND SERIOUS DISCUSSION, (2) ATTENDANCE ONCE-A-WEEK AT GROUP MEETINGS WITH OTHER PROBATIONERS FOR EXPERIENCE SHARING WITHIN A SOCIAL CONTEXT, DISCUSSION OF PROBLEMS, AND SUPPORT FOR POSITIVE SELF-CORRECTION OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR (BEGUN AFTER 8 CREDIT POINTS RECEIVED IN PHASE ONE); (3) NEGOTIATION OF A WRITTEN CONTRACT WITH THE PROBATION OFFICER, WHICH DETAILS SPECIFIC NEW AND POSITIVE BEHAVIORS THE PROBATIONER FEELS HE CAN ACHIEVE (BEGUN AFTER 10 CREDITS EARNED IN PHASE TWO). IN RETURN FOR THE SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT NEGOTIATED IN PHASE THREE, THE PROBATIONER RECEIVES PREDETERMINED REDUCTIONS IN HIS TOTAL PROBATION TIME. NO AVERSIVE CONSEQUENCES ARE INVOLVED; FAILURE TO PERFORM SIMPLY DOES NOT EARN CREDITS. MEASURED RESULTS SHOW THAT THE CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM WAS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE IN DECELERATING DEVIANT BEHAVIOR (ARRESTS AND VIOLATIONS), WHILE EFFECTIVELY ACCELERATING POSITIVE PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR (REGULAR EMPLOYMENT AND ATTENDANCE), USING BEHAVIOR ON REGULAR PROBATION AS A COMPARISON BASE LINE. TABULAR DATA FROM THE STUDY ARE PRESENTED. (RCB)