Shaping, Chaining, and Reinforcement Schedules in Prison Essay

organization, Chaining, and backup Schedules in Prison A Review Shaping, chaining and backing schedules argon takeing theories utilise in operant conditioning to change individual behaviors. Shaping involves program line new behaviors in smells. An individual shapes their behaviors when they atomic number 18 remunerateed for completionly or perfectly mastering a step in the behaviors modification. Chaining is the links that are made from one step to another in the behavior modification. Reinforcement schedules are the rewards and punishments given when an individual masters or ref personas to master a step in the defining of a behavior.Operant conditioning incorporates the use of shaping, chaining and reinforcing behaviors in order to create a desirable end point in the behaviors of an individual. Shaping, chaining and backup schedules are utilized in schools, homes, and prison houses across the world. In the prison purlieu they are used to change inmates behaviors, an d help inmates get ready to reenter society as fecund members. Prisons utilize the various steps of operant conditioning to aide in changing all sorts of behaviors including yellow bile influencement. Shaping and ChainingShaping and chaining behavior is a key part of the learning theory known as operant conditioning. Operant conditioning Shaping takes place when an individual is rewarded for a acceptable response to a stimulus. In an resentment circumspection program an individual would be rewarded for the reaction to enkindle and the ability to manage evoke. An individual would be rewarded for managing anger when presented with stimuli that triggers anger and punished when failing to manage anger when presented with stimuli that trigger anger. At first then inmate might be reward for not becoming physically belligerent when presented with the stimuli that triggers anger.Over time the inmate would not be rewarded unless worry is displayed without verbal or physical aggressi on. The reward for the anger management displayed by inmates would decrease as the management techniques improve. Chaining would occur when the inmate is able to chance on from one step to another in their ability to manage their anger.Reinforcement SchedulesReinforcement schedules are the rewards and punishments utilized in conjunction with shaping and chaining in operant conditioning of behaviors.Rewards are utilized to encourage the chastise responses to stimuli while punishments are utilized to consequence or discourage any responses that are not close to the desired response to a stimulus. As an individual chains the responses and shapes anger management behaviors they are rewarded and learn to utilize anger management in place of old behaviors. The use of rewards is phased out when an individual utilizes the anger management responses instead of the originally responses to stimuli that create anger. Rewards and sanctions are key to shaping any behavior (Carey & Carter, 2009) . literature ReviewResearch shows that the utilization of official reinforcement in inmates produces lordly results in shaping behaviors (Thomas, 2001). check to Fishbein, Sheppard, Hyde, Hubal, Newlin, Serin, Chrousos, & Alesci Executive cognitive functioning and emotional regulation may play a key case in treatment responsively (2009 p.419). Burdon, St. De Lore & Prendergast report that behaviorally based protocol that involves the systematic application of positive reinforcement following demonstration of a desired behavior in drug treatment programs hire proved to promote the shaping of inmate behaviors (2012). Although historically sanctions have been used as the primary method to serve to or control offenders behavior, research indicates that positive reinforcement should be applied more frequently than shun reinforcement when trying to change behavior (Carey & Carter, 2009 p.9) Most experts in psychology and criminal justice fit out anger is problematic when it is to o frequent, too intense, too prolonged, or managed ineffectively (Smith, Smith & Beckner, 1994). Smith, Smith & Beckner dissertate a research study in which anger management workshops were utilized in a womens correctional facility (1994).In this study women were taught anger management skills over the duration of three sessions (1994). The inmates were taught anger management skills and reported feeling better about themselves and their ability to cope with stimuli that triggers anger (1994). Reinforcement schedules are shown to be more effective in women inmates (1994). Shaping of inmate behaviors in drug treatment programs with the use of reinforcement schedules have been researched and findings have been promising (Burdon, St. De Lore & Prendergast, 2012). The shaping of anger management behaviors in inmates is affirmable with positivereinforcement schedules. Inmates do well when positive reinforcements for behaviors are given (Seirn & Hanby, 2009). As Burdon, St. De Lore & Pr endergast explains, inmates are constantly being given punishments and acknowledged for the negative behaviors displayed (2009). When punishments are strip a expression replace with positive reinforcement there is a significant change in the behaviors established by inmates (Smith & Schweitzer, 2012). Individuals receiving positive attention of behaviors exhibit more positive behaviors to get the attention desired.The same can be said in the prison setting. Individuals need to be taught new ways to deal with anger, and the prison environment offers a unique environment to reshape the very behaviors and beliefs that contributed to an individual being placed in there. Inmates imprisoned for acts of violence due to the inadequacy of anger management skills will only reenter the prison system for the same acts if not taught a different way to cope with stimuli that triggers anger. Implementing anger management skills to inmates with anger management issues would reduce the likelihood of reentry. Shaping and chaining the way in which inmates respond to anger can result in lifelong effective implementation of anger management skills by inmates. Shaping would occur by first helping inmate identify stimuli that triggers anger. once inmates know what triggers anger, next the teaching of anger management skills can take place. When inmates utilize the anger management skills in place of the natural reaction for situations that trigger anger, rewards would be given. By implementing reinforcements for the utilization of anger management skills inmates learn the acceptable responses to stimuli of anger. The goal would be to effectively shape the anger management skills utilized by inmates without the need for reinforcement. For example, instead of becoming violent, an inmate would walk away.ConclusionThe utilization if positive reinforcement schedules have been proven to be effective in prisons across the United States. Anger management programs have not always proven t o be victoryful within prisons. Shaping and chaining of anger can be make within the prison system through the implementation of anger management workshops and reinforcements schedules. Several studies have shown the successes of positive reinforcement with inmates. Combining anger management shaping with reinforcement schedules could prove toincrease the likelihood of success in anger management programs offered to inmates.ReferencesButdon, W., St. De Lore, J., Prendergast, M. (2012). Developing and implementing a positive behavioral reinforcement intervention in prison-based drug treatment Project BRITE. Journal of Phychoactive Drugs, 7, 40-50 Retrieved from http//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3429341/ Casey, M., & Carter, M. Center for Effective Public Policy. (2009) Shaping offender behavior. Retrieved from http//www.cepp.com/documents/Shaping%20Offender%20Behavior.pdf Fishbein, D., Sheppard, M., Hyde, C., Hubal, R., Newlin, D., Serin, R., Chrousos, G., & Alesci, S. (20 09). Deficits in behavioral inhibition predict treatment engagement in prison inmates. Law and military personnel Behavior, 33(5), 419-35. doihttp//dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10979-008-9163-7 Serin, R., Hanby, L. Correctional Service Canada. (2009). Offender incentive and behavioural management. Retrieved from http//www.csc-scc.gc.ca/research/005008-0214-01-eng.shtml strategies. Smith, P. & Schweitzer, M. (2012). The therapeutic prison. Journal of modern-day Criminal Justice, 28(1), 7-22. doi 10.1177/1043986211432201 Thomas, S. P. (2001). Teaching healthy anger management. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 37(2), 41-8. Retrieved from http//search.proquest.com/docview/200754284?accountid=458