Values Transmission
Dr. Stan Weed, Institute of Evaluation and Research
Can adolescent behavior be changed (already confirmed in session);
- Sexual activity 1991 (54%) to 2005 (47%) - Since 1986, over 1500% increase in Ab Ed programs (large majority since 1995 – Title V funding)
How do we change it? (What our session has hopefully helped to enhance that you are already doing)
- 1st Premise – Adolescent behavior affected more by non-rational and affective behavior than by rational/cognitive behavior. (Emotionally driven rather than academically – must be helped through development and maturity)
- 2nd Premise – Several key factors operating simultaneously particularly salient to adolescent risk behaviors include norms, values, expectations and sense of personal efficacy that they have acquired and adopted (and eventually internalized).
- 3rd Premise – Key factors are adopted/absorbed mostly at affective and semi-conscious level rather than being selected/adopted based on study of the issues, or some logical decision-making process.
(Impact of 1st and 2nd Premises combined – What and how are we teaching and affecting youth?) - 4th Premise – Major factors of adoption/absorption process is that of personal and emotional connections to significant persons who exhibit and transmit these key factors (ROLE MODELS).
- 5th Premise – Result of all of the above is an evolving “sense of identity” about who they are, what they stand for, where they belong, where they are going with their life. As adolescents are confronted by new experiences, relationships and information, these are filtered by, and interpreted through, this sense of identity. These new relationships and experiences that are powerful and pervasive have the potential to change (and continue, support and build) this sense of identity!
Levels of Intervention
- Awareness
- Knowledge
- Understanding
- Attitude
- Belief
- Value
- Efficacy - Skills
- Commitment
- Practice
- Reinforcement (Habit)
Early stages only increase information (cognitive) and probably none or negative behavior change. Latter stages (7 – 10) actually change behavior (self-efficacy).
We must teach and reach them at more than the cognitive level (just information) in order to show them we care about them, we believe in them and our desire is to help them create a system that will help them be an awesome success! Not always easy, but very good and rewarding!!