Contingency contract: what is it and how to use it?

A tool used both to educate and to adopt healthy lifestyle habits.

Sometimes we behave in ways that not everyone likes. While most of us students can manage this, children and adolescents don't find it so easy.

Whether it's because they don't understand the wrong they may be doing or because they simply like to cause chaos, many young people don't behave appropriately and both teachers and parents end up desperately trying to get them to change.

But change doesn't happen on its own. Intervention is needed, and one of the best techniques for changing the behavior of children and adolescents is the the contingency contract. If you want to know more about this useful tool, we invite you to continue reading.

What is a contingency contract?

A contingency contract is an agreement entered into by several parties that specifies a course of conduct to be performed by the parties.. Normally, these parties are usually a child 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, for example, in couple therapy.

In this agreement, behavioral expectations are established which, if fulfilled, will imply some type of reward. Contingency contracts, which can also be called behavioral contracts, are part of contingency modification techniques, are part of the behavior modification techniques derived from classical and operant conditioning.. The objective of this tool is that, whether it is a child, an adolescent or an adult, he/she changes his/her 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/she performs a desirable behavior. In this way, the person, whether a child or an adolescent, will see the positive consequence of his behavior as a positive consequence of his behavior, will see as a positive consequence of his behavior being rewarded with some kind of benefit. with some kind of benefit. This reward can be something material, such as being able to use a 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 of the contingency contract, since if it is not used, it will be very difficult for the child or adolescent to carry out the behavior we want him to do. That is why, when trying to establish this type of agreement, it is very important to take into account which are the objects or experiences that could motivate the subject to whom this type of contract is to be applied. 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 small child needs to be rewarded immediately after having performed the behavior we wanted him to do. On the other hand, an adolescent can have the reward delayed for a short time.. The important thing is that the individual manages to see that the reward is the positive consequence of his acts.

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, the contract must be in writing and signed by both parties.. This may seem excessive for young children, but it will give them the feeling that they are doing something really serious and they will try to make an effort to comply with it. Also, by putting it in writing, there is a record of what both parties have agreed to. It is very important that the contract has been agreed upon by everyone involved, so that it feels fair and that everyone's opinion has been taken into account.

The behaviors to be achieved through this contract should 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 there should be no free interpretations. For example, a very clear behavior would be 'do homework after lunch', while it would not be appropriate to put something like 'keep up to date'.

It is also necessary to establish achievable behaviors in the short term, which can be organized in such a way that they are steps to achieve a greater goal. For example, it would not be appropriate to set something like 'get good grades on all exams' if the child is failing at baseline. It would be appropriate to start with something like 'study a week in advance for this term's exams'.

As has already been discussed, all behavior should involve some kind of consequence. Ideally, desired behaviors should always have some type of positive reinforcement, whether they are pleasant situations or desired objects. These reinforcements should be proportionate to the steps and progress being made. If the child or adolescent advances, 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 rewards without real progress having been made. For this to work, it is necessary to be constant, in order to make the other party see that you are serious.

Advantages of the contingency contract

As we have been suggesting throughout this article, the contingency contract is not just for children. It is also applicable to adults who, for one reason or another who, for one reason or another, are carrying out behaviors that they wish to change or omit. This means that this tool can be applied in all kinds of contexts, ranging from educational centers, through the home, and ending up in prisons, companies, therapeutic groups...

There is no doubt that, when applied in childhood and adolescence, it can become a great ally of 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 to ensure the success of your child's education, can become a powerful tool to ensure a healthy development of the youngest children..

On a personal level, this technique allows to improve communication and understanding between the parties involved, as well as to put their empathy into practice. También contribuye a aumentar su motivación por portarse bien, ya que saben que de alguna u otra forma van a ser recompensados con algo que sí les gusta.

Referencias bibliográficas:

• Cantrell, R. P., Cantrell, M. L., Huddleston, C. M., & Wooldridge, R. L. (1969). Contingency contracting with school problems. Journal of applied behavior analysis, 2(3), 215–220. doi:10.1901/jaba.1969.2-215
• Mann R. A. (1972). The behavior-therapeutic use of contingency contracting to control an adult behavior problem: weight control. Journal of applied behavior analysis, 5(2), 99–109. doi:10.1901/jaba.1972.5-99.