Behavior contracts PDF

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Notes on behavior contracts. Class taught by Katie Lee Carothers....

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Name Behavioral Contracts Case Example

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 Behavioral Contracts

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Components of a behavioral contract

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Peg… Graduate student who had completed all of her coursework but had not finished writing her dissertation Cant graduate until dissertation is completed Has not worked on it consistently in a month Competing reinforcers Visited her advisor, Tim, worked out a contract. First, Tim asked Peg to set some reasonable goals for herself - Avg. 9 pages (typed, double-spaced) per week - 1 page per day during the week, 2 pages per day on the weekends - could write any amount on any day Agreed to bring typed pages to meeting every week Reinforcement contingency that would motivate Peg - Had to give 15 dollars to least favorite charity - Negative reinforcement contingency (avoid giving away the $) - Brought in signed checks; Kept in the lab - Both parties signed a contract. Behavioral Contracts: A written agreement between two parties identifying: - A specific level of a target behavior and - The consequences for the behavior for at least one of the parties Also called a “contingency contract” or “performance contract” Contract states the time frame of the agreement and identifies the person responsible for administering the consequence - Contracts can be renegotiated and rewritten frequently - Any problems can be corrected Identify the target behavior and criterion level State how the behavior will be measured State when the behavior must occur Identifying the reinforcement or punishment contingency Identifying who will implement the contingency Signatures

1. Identify the target behavior and criterion level - Makes expectations clear, concise, and objective - May include desirable/undesirable behaviors/both - Client chooses target behaviors with assistance of contract manager 2. State how the behavior will be measured - Eliminates ambiguity about whether or not the behavior occurred - To ensure that contingencies are implemented correctly; less conflict  Acceptable methods: - Permanent products of the behavior (homework, pages)

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Direct observation and documentation of the behavior by the contract manager or by agreed upon third party (home on time, reminders) 3. State when the behavior must occur - A time frame is specified in the contracts (e.g., 1 week, each night) 4. Identifying the reinforcement or punishment contingency - Contract manager uses +/- reinforcement/punishment to help client perform (or refrain from) the target behavior - Clearly written; Client agrees - +/- Reinforcement: For desirable behavior - +/- Punishment: for undesirable behavior 5. Identify who will implement the contingency - Typically implemented by the contract manager - May be implemented by a significant other - Sometimes both parties agree to engage in specified levels of bx  Each party bx change reinforces the bx change of the other party  For example:  Dan: agreed to 2 target bx; Parents agree to let him use the car  Parents: agreed to 2 target bxs; Dan agreed to clean his room and be home for dinner  Both parties implement a contingency 6. Signatures - The client and contract manager sign the contract - Serves as a form of public commitment for the client Types of behavioral contracts

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Negotiating a behavioral contract

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One Party contract (unilateral) - One person desires bx change - Written with a contract manager - Contract manager should not benefit (may not implement) - Manager may need to have no personal relationship with client Two party contract (bilateral) - Two people (or parties) desire mutually beneficial bx change - May involve spouses, parent and child, coworkers - Quid Pro Quo Contract: The bx Change of one party serves as the reinforce for the bx change of the other party and viceversa  Problems can arise if one party fails to perform - Parallel contract: Two independent contracts, one for each party. Agree on an attainable level of the target bx Agree on a meaningful consequence - Must be enough to motivate the client - Contact reinforcement -> > likely to enter into future contracts For a two party contract, the parties must ften compromise for both to achieve behefits from the contract. Negotiating a two party contract often requires advanced training (e.g., BCBA, Psychologist)

Why do behavioral contracts work?

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Why do behavioral contracts work? - Not just a simple reinforcement/punishment contingency - Public commitment and social support - Rule-governed behavior cues behavior (prompt/selfinstructions) - Increases anxiety (establishing operations)  Engaging in target behavior then decreases the aversive state (escape)

Applications of behavioral contracts

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Smoking cessation Weight loss/exercise Studying/academic performance Couples therapy and family therapy Guitar practice (intro level class in college) Suicidal ideation/attempts Parents of delinquents Parents of foster children Diabetic self-care

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Four Children (range, 5-8 yrs) and their parents At least 30 min out of bed each night after bedtime All demonstrated disruptive behavior at bedtime - Crying - Arguing - Yelling - Physical aggression - Property destruction Implemented a behavioral contract - Earn reinforcement (toys from a “Grab bag”) - Less than 10 min out of bed each night

Robinson & Sheridan, 2000

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