The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of token reinforcement on the quantity and quality of verbalization in a therapy group of 5 delinquent boys. Ss were reinforced with poker chips for units of verbalization and for certain types of verbalization. The chips were exchanged for candy, money, or phone calls at the end of each session. Verbal behavior was reinforced for 19 of the 25 therapy sessions. Results indicated an increase over baseline rate in the quantity and quality of verbalization.
References
1.
BernardD. L.EisenmanR.Verbal conditioning with social and monetary reinforcement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1967, 6, 203–206.
2.
BrownG. D.TylerV.Jr.Time out from reinforcement: A technique for “dethroning” of an institutionalized delinquent group. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 1968, 9, 203–211.
3.
BurchardJ.TylerV.Jr.The modification of delinquent behavior through operant conditioning. Behavior Research and Therapy, 1965, 2, 245–250.
4.
CarpenterP.CaronR.Green stamp therapy: Modification of delinquent behavior through food trading stamps. Proceedings, 76th Annual Convention, American Psychological Association, 1968, 4, 531–532.
5.
ClementP. W.Operant conditioning in group psychotherapy with children. Journal of School Health, 1968, 38, 271–278.
6.
FinemanK. R.An operant conditioning program in a juvenile detention facility. Psychological Reports, 1968, 22, 1119–1120.
7.
JohnsJ.QuayH.The effect of social reward on verbal conditioning in psychopathic and neurotic military offenders. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 1962, 26, 217–220.
8.
MeichenbaumD.BowersK.RossR.Modification of classroom behavior of institutionalized female adolescent offenders. Behavior Research and Therapy, 1968, 6, 343–353.
9.
OrzeckD.The effects of verbal reward and verbal punishment on delinquent and nondelinquent adolescent boys. Dissertation Abstracts, 1968, 28, 4762.
10.
PersonsR.BrowningJ.Instrumental learning with sociopaths: A test of clinical theory. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1966, 71, 165–168.
11.
SchwitzgebelR.Short-term operant conditioning of adolescent offenders on socially relevant variables. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1967, 72, 132–134.
12.
TylerV.BrownG.Token reinforcement of academic performance with institutionalized delinquent boys. Journal of Educational Psychology, 1968, 59, 164–168.
