Thinking For A Change
Philosophical Foundation
Thinking for A Change is a cognitive-behavioral program, governed by a simple, straightforward principle-thinking (internal behavior) controls actions (external behavior). Therefore, it is necessary to target offenders’ thinking in order to change their actions that lead to criminal conduct. Thinking for A Change is appropriate for a wide range of offenders. Some offenders engage in criminal conduct because they are undersocialized, lacking a repertoire of prosocially acceptable responses to their daily lives. This often takes the form of aggressive acts but can also be manifested in withdrawn behaviors, or other anti-social behaviors such as those associated with drug and alcohol abuse. Other offenders engage in planned and deliberate criminal acts supported by strong antisocial attitudes and beliefs. Their way of thinking supports and justifies the serious offenses they commit. Behavior change cannot take place for these individuals until they become aware of their thinking and see a reason to change.
Cognitive Behavior theories whether they be Cognitive Restructuring (e.g., Ellis, Meichenbaum) or Social Learning (Bandura) view individuals’ maladaptive behaviors as learned. For many offenders these learned antisocial thoughts and actions become the central means by which they cope with life. Strong internal reinforces such as feelings of excitement, pleasure and power offering immediate gratification maintain these behaviors.
Thinking for A change uses a combination of approaches to increase offenders’ awareness of self and others. This deepened attentiveness to attitudes, beliefs and thinking patterns is combined with explicit teaching of interpersonal skills relevant to offenders’ present and future needs. The goal is to provide contextual instruction and related experiences so that offenders are confident and motivated to use prosocial skills when faced with interpersonal problems and/or anti-social or stressful problems. The philosophy of the program endorses that offenders should be empowered to be responsible for changing their own problem behavior. The intervention program provides the offender the tools to take pro-social action and change their offending ways.
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