Identifying Interventions That Work in Juvenile Justice: An Analysis of the Moral Kombat Program.

<p>Effective intervention programs play a fundamental role in reducing rates of juvenile delinquency. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that is strongly supported by research (ACT, 2010). Moral Kombat (MK) is an intervention that combines character-building and CBT concepts in programs for at-risk and delinquent juveniles with the goal to change their belief systems, thus improving their behaviors (Marchant, 2009). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the extent to which MK incorporates the principles identified in the literature as necessary for a CBT program to be successful. The occurrences of the 11 CBT principles identified in the literature found in the MK participant manuals were counted. MK appears to be a structurally sound program that has the potential to help participants but includes barriers to success such as resistance due to compelled attendance, social factors, costs, and inability to meet participant-specific therapy needs.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MA (Master of Arts)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - unrestricted

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Criminal Justice and Criminology

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• McGowan, Thelma Deneen

• Effective
• Interventions
• Juvenile Justice
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Criminology
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Sociology

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright by the authors.

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1341

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-2532