GCSE Psychology 9-1

Psychology 9-1 GCSE -  6.1.4 - Understand two treatments to rehabilitate and reduce criminal and antisocial behaviour and increase pro-social behaviour, including strengths and weaknesses of each treatment: a) Token Economy Programmes -  Use the principles from operant conditioning as a behaviour modification technique. The focus is on the offender and the guard identifying. What the desired behaviour is e.g not swearing or getting into a fight and are therefore used to encourage pro-social behaviour. If the offender does the desired behaviour they are given a token - this acts as a secondary reinforcer that can be traded in for a primary reinforcer which meets a basic need. This acts as a way of reinforcing the good behaviour. It is important that an exchange rate is established, this determines how many tokens are required for the reward to be given. Strengths -  Milby found that TEP were successful in psychiatric hospitals however follow up studies a...

Psychology 9-1 GCSE -  6.1.3 - Understand the effects of punishments on recidivism, including strengths and weaknesses of each punishment: Recidivism -  The tendency of a criminal to re-offend. Prison -  The use of prisons to control crime has increased in frequency in the last decade. Most recently, mandatory minimum sentencing policies have gained widespread popularity throughout the united states, severely limiting judicial discretion in sentencing. The rationale for minimum sentencing is it will be a deterrent to criminals to re-offend. Strengths - The unpleasant environment makes them not want to go back. Negative social stigma with being an ex con. All the while they're in there they can't re-offend Weaknesses -  Negative environment can cause re-offence. Adverse effect on low risk offenders. Psychological deep freeze effect where it has little to no effect. Community Sentencing -  Strengths -  ...

Psychology 9-1 GCSE -  6.1.2 - Understand biological explanations of criminality, including personality types (Eysenck, 1964), to include strengths and weaknesses of the theory: a) Extraversion -  This is associated with traits such as sociability, talkativeness and excitability.  b) Introversion -  A preference for quiet settings and being alone, the opposite of extraversion. c) Neuroticism -  A tendency towards anxiety, self doubt, depression and shyness and other negative feelings. d) Psychoticism -  Aggression, impulsitivity, aloofness and antisocial behavior.

Psychology 9-1 GCSE -  6.1.1 - Understand learning theories as an explanation of criminality, including strengths and weaknesses of each theory: Operant Conditioning (Skinner, 1948) - a) Positive Reinforcement -  This strengthens behavior by providing a consequence an individual finds rewarding. He used a rat in a box to prove this with a lever that released food. b) Negative Reinforcement -  The removal of an unpleasant reinforce can also strengthen behavior. This is known as negative reinforcement because it is the removal of adverse stimulus.  c) Positive Punishment -  Positive punishment removes a positive reinforce to weaken a response.  d) Negative Punishment -  This is applying an unpleasant stimulus to weaken a response. e) Primary Reinforcers -  There is no learning necessary for these to be reinforcing. These are things like eating, sleeping etc. f) Secondary Reinforcers -  This ...