FRANKLIN REALITY MODEL
AS COGNITIVE RESTRUCTURING
(And an eye-opening exercise
for the rest of us)
Ó Carl Reddick
The Franklin Quest Corporation
developed the ‘Franklin Reality Model’ in 1986 as a companion tool to the
Franklin Day Planner. It was designed to help customers get control of their
lives and was designed primarily for use by middle class job holders.
In 1995 counselors at the Eastern Oregon Correctional Facility in
Ontario, Oregon began using the video “Gaining Control” as an introduction to
their cognitive programs. The video identifies 4 components as basic human
needs. To live, to love and be loved, to feel important, and variety. They
defined addiction, in the broadest sense, as behavior which produces short term
benefits and long term destruction.
The model then, in a very easy format, teaches that all persons have a
filtering system which they label the “belief window”. Furthermore, all of us
are constantly placing principles on our belief window that we believe will
help us satisfy those 4 needs. The number of principles on our belief window is
a function of our age.
Once we accept a principle, we attach rules to it. (If that’s true...then
I...). Our behavior will always follow our principles and behavior generally
has easily predictable results. (So if I believe school is a waste of
time then I’ll probably drop out)
There are seven “natural laws” that accompany the model. 1) If the
results of your behavior do not meet your needs, there is an incorrect
principle on your belief window. 2) Results take time to measure. 3)
Growth is the process of changing principles on your belief window. 4)
If your self-worth is dependent on anything external, you are in big
trouble. 5) Addictive behavior is the result of deep and unmet needs (of the
four human needs mentioned above). 6) The mind will naturally seek harmony when
presented with two opposing principles. 7) When the results of your behavior do
meet your needs you experience inner peace.
Over the course of four to six hours we then present examples using the model by focusing on beliefs reaffirming that behavior cannot change until thinking changes. We then use the model focusing on behavior and trying to guess the beliefs motivating that behavior. We then use the Hedonic Calculus to emphasize the results of certain behaviors.
The goal of introducing the model is to reassure the offender, the
citizen, or other participants that they are ok as a person but that certain
beliefs are leading to the same behavior, over and over. Since “growth is the
process of changing principles on one’s belief window”, it is only logical that
the same results (jail, relationships, probation, convictions substances, faith
etc.) should follow the same behavior which originates with the beliefs we have
about the world and our place in it