Contingency Contract: What It Is And How It Is Used
Sometimes we behave in ways that not everyone likes. Although most of us students can control this, it is not so easy for children and adolescents.
Whether because they do not understand the evil they may be doing or because they simply like to sow chaos, many young people do not behave appropriately and both teachers and parents end up desperately trying to make them change.
But change doesn’t happen on its own. It is necessary to intervene and, to do so, one of the best techniques to change the behavior of children and adolescents is the contingency contract If you want to know more about this useful tool, we invite you to continue reading.
A contingency contract is an agreement that is carried out by several parties and in which a conduct to be followed is specified Normally, these parties are usually a boy or girl and an adult, either a parent, a legal guardian or a teacher, although it is true that there are cases in which this type of contract can be used with adults, such as It is, for example, in couples therapy.
This agreement establishes behavioral expectations that, if met, will imply some type of reward. Contingency contracts, which can also be called behavioral contracts, They are within behavior modification techniques, coming from classical and operant conditioning The objective of this tool is that, whether it is a child, a teenager or an adult, they change their behavior by applying positive reinforcement.
What is meant by positive reinforcement?
One of the keys to operant conditioning is positive reinforcement. This consists of offering the subject a positive stimulus every time he carries out a desirable behavior. In this way, the person, whether a child or an adolescent, will see being rewarded as a positive consequence of their behavior with some kind of benefit. This reward can be something material, such as being able to use their favorite toy, or something more experiential, such as being able to go out with friends.
Positive reinforcement is a fundamental element of the contingency contract, given that if it is not used, it will be very difficult for the child or adolescent to carry out the behavior we want them to do. That is why, when trying to establish this type of agreement, it is very important to take into account what are those objects or experiences that could motivate the subject to whom you want to apply this type of contract. Not everyone is motivated by the same thing.
It is also important to understand that reinforcers must be administered appropriately, taking into account the notion of time of the subject to whom they are applied. For example, a young child needs to be rewarded immediately after performing the behavior we wanted him to do. Instead, For a teenager, the reward may be delayed a little The important thing is that the individual manages to see that the reward is the positive consequence of his actions.
How should it be applied?
Once we have seen the definition of the contingency contract and what is meant by positive reinforcement, it may seem very easy to apply this type of behavior modification technique. However, not everything is so simple. When using this type of technique, it is very important to try to meet a series of requirements, otherwise the contingency contract will fail miserably.
First of all, The contract must be in writing and signed by both parties This may seem excessive for young children, but the truth is that it will give them the feeling that they are doing something really serious and they will try to put effort into accomplishing it. Also, by putting it in writing, it is recorded what both parties have reached. It is very important that the contract has been agreed upon by all the people involved, so that it feels fair and that everyone’s opinion has been taken into account.
The behaviors that are to be achieved through this contract must be understood by all parties, written in a simple and direct style, even for adolescents and adults. Behaviors in abstract terms should be avoided at all costs. The idea is that no free interpretations are given For example, a very clear behavior would be ‘do your homework after eating’, while it would not be appropriate to say something like ‘stay up to date’.
Achievable short-term behaviors must also be established, which can be organized in such a way that they are steps to achieve a greater goal. For example, it would not be good to say something like ‘get good grades on all exams’ if the child is failing basics. The appropriate thing would be to start with something like ‘study this quarter’s exams a week in advance’.
As has already been mentioned, all behavior must imply some type of consequence Ideally, the desired behaviors should always have some type of positive reinforcement, whether they are pleasant situations or desired objects. These reinforcements must be proportionate to the steps and progress that are being made. If the child or adolescent makes progress, but little, it is better to give moderate reinforcement.
As in any contract, it is very important that both parties comply with what has been agreed. This, which may seem obvious, is a somewhat complicated point not for children or adolescents, but for their parents who, sometimes, afraid of being too strict, go overboard with tolerance and give out prizes without them having been given real progress. For this to work you must be constant, in order to make the other party see that you are serious.
As we were already suggesting throughout this article, the contingency contract is not just something for children. It is also applicable to adults who, for one reason or another, are carrying out behaviors that they want to change or omit. This means that this tool can be applied in contexts of all types, ranging from educational centers, through the home, to ending up in penitentiary centers, companies, therapeutic groups…
What there is no doubt about is that, applied in childhood and adolescence, it can become a great ally for teachers and parents desperate with the education of their students and children. This reward system, as long as it has been planned based on the rules mentioned in the previous section, can become a powerful tool that ensures the healthy development of the youngest
On a personal level, this technique allows you to improve communication and understanding between the parties involved, in addition to putting your empathy into practice. It also helps increase their motivation to behave well, since they know that in one way or another they will be rewarded with something they do like.
