All of 3rd Millennium’s courses are grounded in evidence-based strategies that drive behavior change. One of the most effective—but often under-appreciated—of these is a psychological technique called Challenging Expectancies.
This approach addresses a critical question behind most risk-related behaviors:
“What do I expect to happen if I do this?”
Understanding—and reshaping—these expectations is often the key to lasting change.
What Are Behavioral Expectancies?
Expectancies are beliefs we hold about the likely outcomes of a behavior. They develop over time, shaped by personal experience, observation, culture, and social influence. In the context of substance use, these beliefs often sound like:
“Alcohol helps me loosen up in social settings.”
“Marijuana makes me more creative.”
“Adderall helps me focus and perform better academically.”
“Vaping is less harmful than cigarettes, so it’s no big deal.”
“Everyone drinks in college—it’s just part of the experience.”
This theory works by helping individuals explore the actual outcomes of their behaviors compared to what they expected would happen. For example, a student who drinks to feel more social might realize that, after a few drinks, they actually become loud, sloppy, or argumentative—leading to embarrassment or conflict. Someone who uses cannabis to “relax” might reflect on how it actually left them lethargic, unmotivated, or anxious. A student misusing stimulants to stay up late studying may notice that the crash the next day leaves them more behind—and more stressed—than before. The list goes on.
Through structured reflection and personalized feedback (another core strategy in our courses), individuals begin to identify patterns where their expectations are not consistently met—or are actively backfiring.
When a person believes that a behavior will lead to a positive or desired outcome, they’re more likely to do it. If we change the perceived outcomes—by confronting the mismatch between expectation and experience—we reduce the motivation.
This isn’t about scare tactics or lectures. It’s about helping people recognize their own experiences, draw their own conclusions, and realign their choices with their actual goals.
This process also helps build cognitive dissonance—the mental discomfort that occurs when beliefs and behaviors don’t align—which can prompt behavior change.
By helping students unpack their assumptions and compare them with real experiences, we encourage thoughtful decision-making and healthier outcomes. That’s why Challenging Expectancies isn’t just a strategy—it’s a powerful catalyst for personal growth.
To learn about additional evidence-based strategies used in 3rd Millennium courses, check out these other articles on using personalized feedback, correcting norms perceptions, addressing a user’s perception of risk, and utilizing a goal-oriented, client-centered counseling style called motivational interviewing.
