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Behavior Modification:
Thesis Statement, Outline, and Annotated Bibliography
Louisa Falin
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Research Paper Outline
Thesis Statement
The use of operant conditioning is a beneficial way to modify behavior for prisoners in a
correctional facility. Prison systems are more commonly known for utilizing punishment for
controlling negative behaviors but there are similarities in punishment and positive
reinforcement to decrease negative behaviors and increase positive behaviors.
I. Introduction
A. This paper will examine classical and operant conditioning in relation to behavior
modification in correctional facilities.
1. Prisoners often face mental health disorders that lead to a loss of
selfworth, loneliness, and idleness which all may lead to high levels of
fear. Despite the difficulties that life in prison may cause, prisoners may
feel as if they can be successful citizens. Many psychologists feel that
changing behavior requires changing patterns of thinking.
2. Do behavior modification programs foster genuine, lasting changes? What
is the ethical balance between using behavior modification for
rehabilitation?
3. Behavior modification utilizing operant conditioning with positive
reinforcement for positive behavior is more beneficial than that if
negative reinforcement using consequences for negative actions,
B. Information about behavior modification in correctional facilities shows various
types of treatment being utilized from a reward system to coercive persuasion.
Studies have shown that both types of treatment have mixed reviews.
1. Behavior modification in correctional facilities began in the 1960’s.
Although psychology was introduced to the prison system in the 1950’s, it
was not until the 1960’s that behavior modification was implemented. In
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1962, James V. Bennett held a seminar on the power to change behavior.
2. Original studies utilized coercive persuasion through behavior
modification. Recent studies have utilized operant conditioning, which is a
reward system in behavior modification where positive reinforcement is
used in the treatment.
3. The use of Operant Conditioning
a. Operant Conditioning: deals with voluntary behaviors based on
the reward or punishment; positive or negative reinforcement.
Behavior Modification: applies operant conditioning to change
behaviors.
b. The primary goal of behavior modification in correctional
facilities is to reduce negative behaviors by addressing the cause
of behavior.
II. Literature Review
A. Theoretical literature pertaining to the learning principle.
1. Operant conditioning is a method based on the use of reward and
punishment to modify unsatisfactory behavior. Operant conditioning is a
method of reversing behavior by reinforcement whether it be positive or
negative reinforcement.
2. Positive reinforcement adds a reward to encourage positive behavior.
Negative reinforcement utilizes punishment to decrease negative behavior.
3. Applications for operant conditioning have shown mixed effects when
utilizing rewards to encourage positive behavior. Skinner presented the
belief that positive behavior followed by a reward would result in the
positive behavior being repeated while negative behavior followed by
punishment would lead to a decrease in the behavior.
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B. Applied Literature-Token Economy
1. The rationale of the study is that prison settings often rely on punishment
for controlling negative behavior believing that it is evident that
punishment will change the behavior and not realizing that there is a
similarity in the reliance of punishment and the use of positive
reinforcement regarding behavior modification.
2. The overview of the study is the implementation of positive
reinforcement to modify behaviors regarding drug use in correctional
facilities with active involvement from staff and inmates.
3. The key elements of the study are planning in a collaborative manner,
utilizing positive reinforcement through Motivational Incentive (MI), and
ensuring that results are verified and documented.
4. The key findings of the study showed that active involvement from all
parties, staff and inmates, was effective yet it was challenging to create a
point system.
5. The study showed mixed results on males versus females in correctional
facilities as well as the study being unable to prove a significant positive
interaction between the group and the treatment.
a) The design of the study was promising while also leaving room for
improvement due to difficulties creating a point system.
b) Appropriate methods were utilized through operant
conditioning/token economy reinforcing positive behavior
through a reward system.
c) In the hypothesis was a prediction that positive reinforcement
would modify behavior in a greater capacity than negative
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reinforcement, The study showed mixed reviews in the capacity to
modify behavior through positive reinforcement.
III. Summary
A. Prison systems have heavily relied on punishment as a means to modify
negative behavior in correctional facilities. Studies show that there are mixed
reviews with introducing positive reinforcement to correction facilities and that
behavior modification through positive reinforcement is rare.
B. Recommendations
1. Due to difficulties in creating a point system, this study could have
had different results if more time, funds, and effort was placed in
an attempt to create a better support system and better
reinforcements.
2. Implications of the study are that modifying behavior with the use
of positive reinforcement is rare and there is no proof that
positive reinforcement is a great plan than punishment.
3. Government officials would benefit from the recommendations as
they could assist with providing the means to improve the study.
C. Future research should focus on the detrimental effect
that the environment has on the study participants as well as how
to improve the point system in regard to positive reinforcement.
D. Conclusions
1. The importance of behavior modification in correctional facilities is
the possibility of reducing criminal behavior and improvement of
facility staff.
2. No support was found to show that positive reinforcement would
modify negative behavior.
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3. The conclusion of the study is that collaboration is essential to gain
positive results. It is also concluded that collaboration resulted in
engagement but had complications in the design due to the
environment the study was completed in.
Annotated Bibliography:
Burdon WM, St De Lore J, Prendergast ML. Developing and implementing a positive
behavioral reinforcement intervention in prison-based drug treatment: Project BRITE. J
Psychoactive Drugs. 2011 Sep;Suppl 7:40-50. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2011.601990. PMID:
22185038; PMCID: PMC3429341.
The article by Burdon et al., shows mixed results with the utilization of positive
reinforcement for behavior modification. The study shows implementation of a positive
behavioral reinforcement intervention in prison-based drug treatment programs. The study
opposes my view that positive reinforcement has greater benefits than negative reinforcement
with the data showing mixed results for positive reinforcement.
Colley, Z. (2023). Erasing Minds: Behavioral Modification, the Prison Rights Movement,
and Psychological Experimentation in America's Prisons, 1962–1983. Journal of American
Studies, 57(1), 84-111. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021875822000123
Erasing Minds shows the development of behavior modification in prisons in the 1960s
and 1970s. The article discusses the use of punishment to modify behavior which resulted in
abuse of power.
Elbers, J. M., van Ginneken, E. F. J. C., Nieuwbeerta, P., Boone, M., van Ginneken, E. F., &
Palmen, H. (2022). The effects of reward systems in prison: A systematic review.
International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice., 71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlcj.2022.100556
The Effects of Reward Systems in Prison discusses the use of sentence decrease
possibilities with good behavior through the use of RSTs. The article reports that RSTs can be a
useful tool in behavior modification.
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Visher, C., & Eason, J. (2021). A better path forward for criminal justice: Changing
prisons to help people change. (). Washington: The Brookings Institution. Retrieved from
ProQuest Central; Social Science Premium Collection
https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/reports/
betterpath-forward-criminal-justice-changing/docview/2576907486/se-2
A Better Path Forward for Criminal Justice discusses utilizing cognitive behavioral
therapy (CBT) as an intervention to change behavior. The article discusses how CBT utilizes
identifying negative thoughts and practicing coping skills to modify behavior.
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