IV. Elicitating Self-Motivation Statements

Summarizations

"Summarizations" are a number of reflections strung together. These skills help build rapport between people, which also helps lower apprehension levels. Summarizing the key points helps prove that staff is listening, and understands what was said. Staff should be able to use summarizations periodically throughout interviews to recap major points. This will help staff move through an offender's resistance by illustrating the staff's understanding of her situation.

Affirmations

"Affirmations" are techniques that can be used to reinforce offenders' self-efficacy. This powerful and positive statement reinforces pro-social behavior. Social learning theory holds that behaviors can be learned best when they are reinforced. Affirmations serve as the tool for reinforcement in situations where someone does something positive. If someone accomplishes something and it is not affirmed, the likelihood of repetition decreases.