A contingency is a course of action that flows from, or is directed/influenced by, a particular set of events or circumstances.
A sensitive and attuned mother will ideally respond
contingently to her child - responding in accordance to the child's
state of mind and
needs at that particular time. Contingency in this sense refers to the
"fit" between the child's needs and wishes and what the mother offers.
Even very young infants are seen to seek out and 'prefer' evidence of contingency in their environment, whereas
Non-contingent responses to their behaviour are distressing or aversive.
Contingencies refer to the plans that are specifically drawn up to respond appropriately to different potential outcomes.
In therapy, we may predict certain
contingencies (i.e. predictable problems, or hoped-for target behaviours/skills) and we can agree the most helpful way to respond to these in advance:
"If you can demonstrate you are drug free next week, then you can..."
Positive contingencies act as rewards - helping in the Positive
Reinforcement of desired behaviours.
Negative contingencies might be outcomes that deliberately try to remove the Positive
Reinforcement of undesired behaviours, and replace these with less pleasant experiences. (This is slightly confusing terminology, as "negative contingencies" are "not pleasant", whereas a
Negative Reinforcement is actually the removal of something unpleasant - which is a positive relief!)
The evidence does not support
punishment as an effective means of bringing about
lasting change, but
removing the positive reinforcers of an undesired behaviour is an effective way of reducing it. Negative contingencies (loss of privileges, reduced pocket money, etc, in direct relation to predetermined and negotiated boundaries) may help to shift behaviour in the early stages - though the counter-risk in this case is of provoking greater disharmony and conflict, and thus reducing the available support from
FamilyInformalNetworkMembers.