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What Is Contingency Contracting?

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Summary

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Think of contingency contracting as a promise between a parent and their child. The child agrees to do something, like finishing their homework or eating vegetables, and in return, the parent promises a reward. The reward could be something fun like extra playtime or a treat. But, if the child doesn’t follow through, there might be a consequence, like less TV time. It’s like a “deal” or an “agreement” that helps kids learn good behavior.

Table of Contents

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Frequently Asked Question

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What is contingency contracting?

Contingency contracting is a method where desired behaviors are encouraged through rewards or consequences.

How does contingency contracting work?

It involves setting a behavior goal for a child and associating it with a reward for success or a consequence for failure.

Can contingency contracting help my child learn good habits?

Absolutely! It’s a proven strategy to promote good habits and discourage undesirable behaviors in kids.

How can I implement contingency contracting at home?

Identify a behavior, set a clear goal, decide on a reward or consequence, and consistently apply the “contract.”

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Scientific Definition

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Contingency contracting is a behavior management strategy used in behavioral psychology, where achieving a specific behavior is linked with a pre-agreed reward or consequence. It is a structured intervention method based on the principles of operant conditioning, encouraging desired behaviors through positive reinforcement or dissuading undesirable behaviors through negative reinforcement.

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Real World Example of Contingency Contracting

Meet Susie, a bright 7-year-old who loves playing on her tablet but dislikes brushing her teeth. Her mom decides to use contingency contracting to encourage this good habit. Here’s how it went:

  • Susie’s mom explained: Brush your teeth twice daily, and you’ll get 30 extra minutes on your tablet.
  • She clarified: Skip it, and it’s 15 minutes less tablet time.
  • Susie loved her tablet time, so she agreed to the deal.
  • After a few days, Susie was brushing her teeth regularly without any reminders.

The result? Susie learned a good habit, and her tablet time became even more enjoyable. Like that, contingency contracting helped Susie and her mom solve a problem, turning teeth-brushing into a win-win game.

Contingency contracting starts with identifying a behavior to be encouraged or discouraged. Next, you devise a clear, fair “deal” or “contract” that sets the behavior goal and the related reward or consequence.

  • Step 1: Identify a behavior. This could be anything, like cleaning a room regularly.
  • Step 2: Set a goal. Decide what success looks like, such as a clean room every day for a week.
  • Step 3: Choose a reward. This could be extra video game time for reaching the goal.
  • Step 4: Determine a consequence. If the goal isn’t met, there might be less video game time.

It’s a game of give and take, where everyone wins when the rules are followed.

 

Goally can be a great partner in contingency contracting. It’s fun and easy to use and can help keep track of goals and rewards, making this learning process even more enjoyable and effective for kids.

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