Transcript PEACEMAKERS: A Peaceful, Positive Path Toward Success

On the one hand I must attempt
to change the soul of individuals
so that their societies may be
changed. On the other I must
attempt to change the societies
so that the individual soul will
have a chance.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
PEACEMAKERS
Problems of aggression in youth
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Propensity toward subsequent violent &
aggressive acts including violent crimes
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More likely to perpetrate physical violence in
intimate relationships
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Vulnerable to depression and anxiety
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Increased risk of chronic and persistent MH
issues, including personality disorders
PEACEMAKERS Goals
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Prevent violence

Improve interpersonal behavior among youth
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Positively change violence-related attitudes
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Train youth in conflict-related social skills, including
anger management, unbiased social perception,
conflict avoidance, problem-solving and assertiveness
PEACEMAKERS curriculum
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17 lessons
Delivered by teachers or other school
personnel
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45 minute lessons

User-friendly
Helping our students become
peacemakers
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Stop conflicts before they start – notice and
reinforce positive, respectful behavior
Manage conflicts when they cannot be avoided
– remind students of problem solving steps
If conflicts cannot be resolved, help students
to walk away – redirect behavior
Research: Jeremy Shapiro, Ph. D.
Students selected by teacher referral
or as volunteers
 Informed consent
 181 intervention students
 75 comparison students
 61% African American, 17% Hispanic,
57% female
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Research Findings
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Pre/post Aggressive Behavior Checklist (ABC,
Shapiro, 2000)
Statistically significant difference between
participant’s pre- and post- test scores
(p<.001)
Males demonstrated greater decrease in
aggression between pre/post means
May facilitate pro-social behaviors (e.g,
helping others)
May impact teacher perception (e.g., decrease
in aggressive behaviors reported)
Research: Harrisburg, 2006

255 students, grades 4-8
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181 intervention students

74 comparison students

Informed consent

55% African-American, 13% Hispanic, 12% (White, Asian, Native
American); 56% female
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ABC (Aggressive Behavior Checklist) self-report scale pre/post
Research Findings - Harrisburg

Significantly lower levels of aggression
intervention group vs. comparison group
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Males – greater decrease in aggression
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Comparison group – slight increase in
levels of aggression
Study Conclusion
PEACEMAKERS program has potential
to reduce aggressive and violent
behaviors and attitudes in school-aged
children, while simultaneously
increasing pro-social behaviors.
PEACEMAKERS, 2010-2011
Implement PEACEMAKERS in all
Harrisburg sixth grade classes
during first marking period cofacilitated by Guidance
Counselor and classroom
teacher