NCJ Number
57635
Journal
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 163-168
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SELF-RECORDING WITH TOKEN REINFORCEMENT (A BEHAVIOR MODIFICAITON TECHNIQUE) IN IMPROVING THE CONVERSATIONAL HABITS OF INCARCERATED FEMALE JUVENILE DELINQUENTS IS TESTED.
Abstract
THE STUDY SUBJECTS WERE FIVE FEMALES, AGED 14 TO 18, HOUSED AT THE HYANDI TREATMENT AND RESEARCH CENTRE FOR ADOLESCENTS IN PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. (OTHER SUBJECTS PARTICIPATED, BUT NOT FOR THE ENTIRE STUDY PERIOD.) DURING A BASELINE PERIOD, THE YOUTHS' CONVERSATIONS IN THEIR LIVING AREA WERE RECORDED INFORMALLY BY OBSERVERS. THEN PROSOCIAL COMMENTS WERE TAUGHT IN GAME-LIKE TRAINING SESSIONS. IN THE LIVING AREA, EACH SUBJECT CARRIED A CARD ON WHICH SHE RECORDED THE FREQUENCY OF HER PROSOCIAL COMMENTS (E.G., 'RUNNING AWAY IS STUPID') AND POSITIVE ATTENTION TO THE PROSOCIAL COMMENTS OF OTHERS (E.G., VERBAL APPROVAL OF SOMEONE'S PROSOCIAL REMARK). THE SUBJECTS RECEIVED TOKENS EACH EVENING BASED ON THEIR OWN RECORDS OF THEIR BEHAVIOR. SELF-RECORDING WAS INTRODUCED FIRST FOR THE SUBJECTS' CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR PEERS AND LATER FOR THEIR CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF MEMBERS. BOTH PROSOCIAL COMMENTS AND POSITIVE ATTENTION INCREASED OVER THE BASELINE FREQUENCY AFTER SELF-RECORDING WAS INTRODUCED. ANTISOCIAL COMMENTS WERE NOT A FOCUS OF THE TRAINING SESSIONS AND SELF-RECORDING PROCEDURE, BUT THESE DECREASED AS PROSOCIAL COMMENTS INCREASED. SIDE-EFFECTS OF THE EXPERIMENT INCLUDED REDUCTIONS IN ARGUMENTS, AGGRESSION, SWEARING, AND STEALING, AND INCREASES IN REPRIMANDS FROM PEERS FOR SUCH BEHAVIOR. THE FINDINGS DEMONSTRATE THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO ALTER DELINQUENTS' INTERACTIONS IN A WAY THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH TREATMENT OBJECTIVES. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)