THE PSYCHOLOGY

Training sessions are based on principles of youth development from psychology (i.e., the science of emotions, thinking and behavior) and the practices school personnel and law enforcement officers need to improve relationships with youth in school and in the community. These sessions from psychological principles to practices for school professionals to improve school climate. 

PRINCIPLE

a research-based truth from the field of psychology

 

PROMOTION & PREVENTION

HUMANS ACHIEVE GOALS DIFFERENTLY.

Higgins (2001) theory of regulatory focus posits that individuals have differing preferences for obtaining goals.  Individuals have a chronic disposition toward promotion or prevention thinking.

  • Promotion thinking occurs when individuals are focused on increasing positive end states. 
  • Prevention thinking occurs when individuals are focused on reducing negative end states. 

PRACTICE

an action performed by school personnel or law enforcement

 

 

Why does it matter? 

Educators and law enforcement officers respond to situations that call for prevention thinking -- to stop harm immediately (e.g., stop student fights, de-escalate conflict). However, many situations could be improved with responses based in promotion thinking, which aims to build positive, proactive relationships whereby students strengths (rather than deficits) are the focus. 

MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS

STUDENT ACTIONS AIM TO MEET NEEDS.

Maslow's (1972) hierarchy of needs posits that people behave to satisfy the following needs:

  • physiological
  • safety and security
  • Social acceptance
  • self-esteem and status
  • self-actualization

 

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

School personnel and SRO/SSOs can explain the motivation for behavior when they consider this critical concept. Strategies to meet students' needs could include: providing clothing (physiological), be present in the hallway (safety), connecting students to their peers (social acceptance), recognition of academic achievement (self-esteem), and (self-actualization)

IMPLICIT BIAS

HUMANS have implicit bias.

For decades, social psychologists have studied the implicit biases held by all humans. Bias is inherent in human decision making. Awareness of one's own bias can help individuals prevent negative biases from affecting decision making and actions. 

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Race or gender-based implicit biases may affect interactions with youth from a different background. 

PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES

The aforementioned principles and practices are examples of content provided in the training session.