Transforming Behaviour: Pro-social Modelling in Practice by Sally Cherry (MPTC, Birmingham)
Pro-social modelling has come to be recognised as fundamental to effective work with offenders in the Probation Service, Youth Justice and the Prison Service, as well as having applications in a number of other fields, and has been found to be very effective in positively influencing offenders towards anti-crime behaviours and attitudes. It refers to the process of actively reinforcing pro-social behaviour and discouraging anti-social behaviour and attitudes, setting a good, motivating example in order to bring out the best in people. This book meets the need for a practical guide which explains in a simple and straightforward way what pro-social modelling is and how to implement it in practice. It is based on the extensive experience Sally Cherry has had in this field and in running training courses, working with offenders and involuntary clients, and is designed both to be 'dipped into' or read through as a whole. The key areas it covers include: ways of developing honest and empathetic relationships with clients that demonstrate a genuine concern for the person, with persistence and optimism about their capacity to change modelling and encouraging pro-social behaviour, including being clear about underlying values and expectations ways of discouraging by challenging and confronting undesired values and behaviour including the discouragement of pro-criminal and anti-social values and behaviour.