Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
14:43
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Brief report: piloting the Positive Life Changes (PLC) program for at-risk adolescents
Ariel A Williamson1, Carly B Dierkhising, Nancy G Guerra
1University of Delaware, Department of Psychology, 108 Wolf Hall, Newark, DE 19716, USA. awilliamson@psych.udel.edu
Journal of Adolescence
|April 16, 2013
Summary
The Positive Life Changes (PLC) program, a cognitive-behavioral intervention, successfully improved social competencies and reduced aggression in at-risk adolescents. This pilot study shows promise for the PLC program in school settings.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Adolescent Development
- Intervention Science
Background:
- At-risk adolescents often exhibit challenges in social competencies and aggression.
- Cognitive-behavioral interventions show potential for addressing these issues.
- Social information-processing (SIP) skills are crucial for social competence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To pilot the Positive Life Changes (PLC) program, a cognitive-behavioral intervention.
- To assess the program's impact on social competencies and aggression in adolescents.
- To evaluate the feasibility of the PLC program in an alternative high school setting.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving 31 self-referred adolescents (mean age 15.64) in 4 intervention groups.
- Utilized pretest and 6-week posttest questionnaires measuring social competencies, aggressive behavior, and aggression propensity.
- Employed three-level hierarchical linear models to analyze changes from pretest to posttest.
Main Results:
- Significant increases were observed in three social competencies.
- Reductions in physical and verbal aggression propensity were found.
- The number of program sessions attended did not moderate the observed changes.
Conclusions:
- The Positive Life Changes (PLC) program shows efficacy in enhancing social competencies and reducing aggression in at-risk adolescents.
- Findings support the potential of the PLC program for implementation in school and community settings.
- Further research is warranted to explore long-term effects and broader applicability.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Behavior Modification
Behavioral approaches have often been criticized for ignoring mental processes and focusing solely on observable behavior. However, these approaches provide an optimistic perspective for individuals seeking to change their behaviors. Rather than concentrating on intrinsic personality traits, behavioral approaches suggest that even longstanding habits can be modified by changing the reward contingencies that maintain them.
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
01:22Self-Report Tests of Personality
Self-report inventories are objective personality assessments that use multiple-choice items or numbered scales, typically ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). They are often called Likert scales after Rensis Likert. These inventories are widely used due to their ease of administration and cost-effectiveness. One of the most prominent examples is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), initially developed in the 1940s to assess abnormal personality traits.
01:24Operant Conditioning Intervention
Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
01:30Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI
Adopting a healthier lifestyle often requires overcoming significant challenges, but leveraging psychological, social, and cultural resources can facilitate meaningful change. Effective self-change hinges on understanding and applying key tools such as motivation and goal setting, which help sustain efforts toward long-term health benefits.
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...