NCJ Number
154002
Date Published
1995
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study examined the efficacy of the Decision Maker (DM) Process as an intervention to improve self-esteem; enhance an internal locus of control; and to reduce hostility, social alienation, and antisocial behavior in eight incarcerated criminals.
Abstract
It hypothesized that using the DM Process to eliminate beliefs such as "I'm not good enough," "I'm not worthwhile or deserving," "I'll never get what I want," "People can't be trusted," and "I don't matter," will significantly improve self- esteem, enhance an internal locus of control, and reduce hostility, social alienation, and antisocial behavior. The DM Process, which was created by Morty Lefkoe 10 years ago, is based on the concept that behavior and emotions are a function of beliefs. The DM Process enables people to identify the specific beliefs responsible for any given pattern of behavior or emotions and then to permanently eliminate the beliefs, thereby producing significant changes in the patterns. The evaluation results were obtained by administering the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale to all 16 subjects (8 controls and 8 experimental subjects) both before and after the intervention. In addition, subjects in the experimental group would be interviewed at the end of the study to determine the value of the DM sessions, both emotionally and behaviorally, and their assessment of the process itself. Case workers for each of the 16 subjects were also asked to provide a written report on the attitudes and behavior of each subject weekly, in addition to completing a Revised Behavior Problem Checklist both prior to the intervention and again at its completion. The evaluation results support the claim that persons in the experimental condition did develop more favorable self- concepts over the weeks of the experiment, and those in the control condition showed no systematic change.