ABSTRACT
When adolescents were referred to the Four Phase System, the treatment focus was to stabilize the youth and his or her family, to bring about a reduction in disruptive behaviors, and to teach youngsters to understand life’s themes and conflicts. Thus, the treatment emphasis was on developing a locus of control that, according to Lefcourt (1982), is an essential treatment focus emphasizing social learning, positive attitudes, and ego strength. In their efforts, treatment staff relied upon the systematic application of intervention techniques that were based on learning theory, the psychodynamic understanding of emotional problems, and behavior therapy. Because all behaviors are observable and, therefore, measurable and changeable, behavioral change can be stimulated by altering contingencies and reinforcements and by the prescribed management of milieu interactions. Thus, a youngster’s problematic behaviors can be modified over time by treatment staff controlling and directing environmental events and by applying or removing reinforcements as required. This chapter describes the theory and application of a modifying economy based on the principles of behavior therapy and positive discipline, which was developed at the Oshawa/Whitby Crisis Intervention Centre, a reentry program of the Four Phase System.
