GPS

The GPS – Growing Pro-Social, is a group based prevention and rehabilitation program for individuals with anti-social behavior. The main goal of the GPS is to reduce the prominence of dysfunctional information processing structures, promoting a more functional processing of social information, with the consequent adjustment of emotional, motivational and behavioural patterns. To achieve this effect, the program is made of 40 sessions, organized into five modules: Communication Process, Interpersonal Behaviour, Thinking Errors (cognitive distortions), Emotions Meaning and Function, and Life Traps (Early Maladaptive Schemas).The main goal of this research project was to study the efficacy of the GPS in the reduction of anti-social behaviour and cognitive and emotional correlates, in two different samples: adolescents under a corrective educational measure and adult prison inmates. In both samples, the experimental group was compared with a control group (TAU, Treatment As Usual in forensic settings). Finally, it was expected that desired changes after program completion should be maintained over time (6 months follow up measurement). Outcome research has been published in recent years and findings are still being disseminated. This Project offered support for the use of GPS as a cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation program in the Portuguese Justice System.