69. Expectation Systems & Contracts

Episode 69 of the Becoming Centered Podcast, building off of the previous two episodes, presents listeners with a powerful tool for residential treatment programs – Expectation Contracts.  Episode 67 presented the underlying conceptual difference between using point systems, behavior contracts, and other "behavioral" change techniques to impact performative surface behaviors versus impacting inner systemic change.  Both have their place.  Episode 68 expanded on these distinctions by introducing the idea of a "behavior-management" system versus a "feedback-incentive" system.  Both use the same elements of tracking some behavior or other aspect of performance, giving it a score (or coupon or other token), the accumulation of which results in a pay-out.  However, feedback-incentive systems are a fundamentally different intervention aimed at cognitive change in how kids manage themselves, their beliefs, their values, and their relationships with others.  The focus is not on discrete behaviors but on increasing the efforts kids make to develop themselves. This episode takes that understanding and explores concrete ways to take the feedback-incentive model and turn it into a focused Expectation Contract.  A structure is presented to empower listeners to create customized Expectation Contracts for their residential units or for individual clients.