TEPs are used to obtain desirable behaviour in a closed institution such as a prison. They are used for both juvenile and adult offenders and are a form of behaviour modification.
They are based on the idea of Operant Conditioning and reinforcement to encourage repetition of positive behaviour, both positive (giving something pleasant) and negative (removing something unpleasant).
A TEP involves a system of rewards. They are usually tokens or points and can be exchanged for something that the individual wants. The rewards must genuinely reward the person – the tokens are secondary reinforcers but they can be exchanged for primary reinforcers.
Desirable behaviour like co-operation and compliance is reinforced with the use of tokens. In a prison setting these desirable behaviours might include things like not fighting and queueing well before meals.
There must be consistency in giving rewards between staff and involve understanding about what the individuals must to do get tokens and how they are able to exchange them.
- Identify the behaviour that is to be changed – it must be observable and should be positive if possible
- Select tokens and what they can be exchanged for
- Ensure that the rewards have meaning for the individual
- Set achievable goals – the individual must know what they need to do to meet their goals and they should not be easy to achieve (they can change as behaviour improves)
- The whole programme needs to be explained to the individuals
- They need to get feedback on their progress, including guidance for those who are not being given any tokens
- Rewards must be provided
- Goals should be reviewed as well as how tokens are given and exchanged
Many programmes run a system of negative reinforcement or punishment alongside a TEP to reduce undesirable behaviour with deterrents like isolation, TV bans or restricted exercise times.