NCJ Number
73749
Journal
Archiv fuer Wissenschaft und Praxis der Sozialen Arbeit Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: (1978) Pages: 189-200
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The literature on behavioral contracting was reviewed for common characteristics, and a mutual service contract was tested in this West German study.
Abstract
Behavioral contracting is generally defined as the binding of particular behavioral characteristics to particular consequences through a contract. Most contracts include the following features: mutual obligations and terms for their exchange are set in print and signed; participants enter the contract by free choice; a method for settling disputes is agreed upon. Other characteristics which are recommended, but not always possible to realize are equality in rank between the participants; precontract negotiations, an exchange of behavior promises rather than material rewards; clarity; the inclusion of termination and amendment clauses; and the application of insights from psychological research. Since most studies have involved contracts which exchange material rewards or punishment for specified behavior or which involve the repressive manipulation of the party in the weaker position, a contract between six male youths who were institutionalized recidivists and two researchers was drawn up to exclude these elements. The researchers agreed to serve dinner, wash dishes, and clean the kitchen for 4 weeks; the youths promised to conduct themselves in a polite manner during the meal. The contract clearly specified the individual tasks expected of all participants and included a point system to measure success. The terms of the contract were arrived at after the researchers had participated in meals with the youths for a 4-week, precontract observation period. The results showed that the youths had significantly altered their behavior during the term of the contract. However, the behavior improvement did not progress beyond its initial level, and a trend test did not reveal a long-term modification. Such contracts are advantageous because they are objective and they constitute a clear form of communication; the mutual conditions release clients to some extent from their inferior positions; and they require less social worker time than casework techniques. A copy of the contract, data graphs, and a reference list are included.