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Abstract
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VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this article by Clough was to describe a school based program, Solutions Without Guns, designed to address attitudes favorable to gun use among elementary school students.
METHODOLOGY:
A non-experimental description of the program was presented.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The program was implemented for two reasons. First, youth handgun violence in America has increased dramatically. In an effort to decrease the youth gun violence problem, the program was designed to change or reduce the attitude that using handguns is solution to solving problems. Second, the program was implemented in response to a study conducted by The Gun Safety Institute (GSI), which found four factors that help to explain the attitudes of motivation attracting youth to guns and violence. Targeting these specific factors may reduce favorable attitudes toward handguns.
The four gun-proneness factors and their underlying meaning were: 1) Excitement: guns are exciting, stimulating, and fun; 2) Power/Safety: guns provide protection and power; 3) Comfort with Aggression: guns and aggression are acceptable; and 4) Aggressive Response to Shame: aggression is the most effective way to recover self-esteem. The Solutions Without Guns program was designed to address these four factors through a multi-media educational curriculum.
The program teaches youth to: 1) identify the four gun-proneness factors in themselves and in others, 2) identify and choose alternative positive behaviors, 3) resist negative peer pressure regarding the four factors, and 4) practice appropriate pro-social behavior. The program targets the general fifth grade population. The GSI study found that attitudes favorable to gun use increases most dramatically between fifth and sixth grade. The program includes the following components: an information and training session for the parents and staff, a pre- and post-test, a videotape, a reader that focuses on the gun-proneness factors, a teacher's guide with lessons and suggested activities, a classroom poster, and student award certificates.
In sum, the Solutions Without Guns program aims to provide youth with alternative choices to solving problems that might otherwise be solved by handgun violence.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
KW - Elementary School Student
KW - Grade 5
KW - Violence Prevention
KW - School Based
KW - Prevention Recommendations
KW - Prevention Program
KW - Firearms Violence
KW - Late Childhood
KW - Firearms Use Causes
KW - Firearms Prevention
KW - Child Firearms Use
KW - Child Violence
KW - Child Offender
KW - Child Victim
KW - Program Description
Language: en |