Randomized interdependent group contingencies on prosocial behaviors of juvenile delinquents

The treatment of delinquency has perplexed societies throughout the ages. Recent increases of violent criminal acts committed by adolescent youth have resulted in higher rates of placement in residential treatment centers. Although behavioral contingency management programs have been demonstrated to be an effective means of treating delinquency, success has been limited due to the extra time and resources required implementing them. Many behavioral programs rely on the incidental reporting of negative behaviors by other residents within the treatment setting. Group contingencies, however, are a viable alternative in that they have been found to be more efficient and effective than individual contingencies in addressing disruptive behavior as well as fostering prosocial behaviors. Research has demonstrated that rewarding antisocial adolescents in a group setting for reporting the positive social behavior of their peers increased positive social behavior. To date, only two studies have employed group contingencies with juvenile delinquents in residential treatment centers. Further, prosocial reporting has yet to be investigated with this population. The present study employed an ABAB design across all participants to investigate the effects of a randomized interdependent group contingency and randomized reinforcers to increase prosocial behaviors of juvenile delinquents in a residential setting. Results demonstrated that the reporting by the participant's respective prosocial behaviors increased actual observable prosocial behaviors. The current study provides a procedural framework wherein target behaviors are taught and the environment altered so that demonstrating and reporting such behavior is reinforced.