ARISE Life Skills programs are based on five psychological models:
- Positive Psychology
- Social Learning Theory and Self-Efficacy Training
- Cognitive Behavioral Model
- Information Processing Model
- Psycho Educational Model
Positive psychology is a new branch of psychology that focuses on concepts such as positive emotions, strength-based character, and healthy institutions. Dr Martin Seligman, professor of positive psychology and director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center, has demonstrated that it is possible to become happier—to feel more satisfied, be more engaged with life, find more meaning, have higher hopes, and probably even laugh and smile more—regardless of one’s circumstances. ARISE staff training and youth life-skills lessons are interventions that help at-risk youth become happier by making more positive life choices. ARISE staff training exercises and youth life-skill activities have a meaningful impact in a fun, interactive way that everyone enjoys. These interventions help training participants and youth begin actively looking for the positives in their lives. Instead of looking at what’s wrong, ARISE staff training and youth life-skills lessons build on strengths and focus on positive youth development.
Social Learning Theory and Self-Efficacy Training (Albert Bandura)
This model stresses learning through imitation and developing self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is belief in one’s own ability to succeed. The ARISE program helps high risk youth develop appropriate social behaviors and belief in their ability to succeed in school, at home, and in the community. The youngsters develop and “I can” rather than “I can’t” perspective.
Cognitive Behavioral Model (Donald Meichenbaum)
ARISE uses a process to teach at-risk youth how to regulate and monitor their behavior by telling themselves what to do, asking themselves questions, and evaluating themselves. They learn how to verbalize and think through problems they encounter with other individuals in school, at home, and in the community.
Information Processing Model (Robert Sternberg)
The ARISE program also teaches disadvantaged children how to be better problem solvers by understanding the situation before acting. They learn how to make good choices and stick by them. Additionally, they learn how to avoid bad situations and think about consequences.
Psycho Educational Model
The Psycho Educational model is a humanistic approach to changing the behavior patterns, values, interpretation of events, and life outlook of individuals who are not adjusting well to their environment(s) (e.g. home, school, workplace). Inappropriate behavior is viewed as a person’s maladaptive attempt to cope with the demands of that environment. Appropriate behaviors are developed by helping the individual to recognize the need for change, and then helping that person to display better behavior choices. In essence, and often in practice, a “teacher” is helping a “student” to more accurately understand oneself (and others), the futility of the present pattern of behaving, and the need to adopt pro-social alternative responses.
Psycho-educators believe that this positive behavior change is more likely to occur when the teacher is able to develop and maintain a positive and mutually respectful interaction with the student. Interventions based upon the Psycho Educational model rely heavily on the teacher’s ability to develop a trusting and accepting relationship with the student. The teacher’s style is empathetic and supportive, while still maintaining appropriate boundaries in the relationship. Limits are also placed on the student’s behavior. Consequences occur when the student displays unacceptable behavior. However, the teacher continues to encourage the pupil, and works closely with him/her to develop more socially acceptable (re)actions. While expressing displeasure with the behavior, the teacher continues to express confidence in the student’s ability to change for the better.
ARISE life skills activities are based on the Psycho Educational model. Each lesson helps the individual to recognize the need for change and that they have choice. The goal of each activity is to change behavior.
Arise training helps the group facilitator become a psycho educator. They learn that positive behavior change is more likely to occur when the group facilitator is able to develop and maintain positive and mutually respectful interactions with the youth. The group facilitator learns a style that is supporting and empathetic. The facilitator always encourages the youth and looks at the 10 % they do right rather than the 90% they might do wrong. The group facilitator always expresses confidence in the youth’s ability to change.