Developmental Assets

We’re worried about our own kids, our neighbor’s kids, the students in our classrooms, the youth in our congregations, and kids in general. We’ve heard the stories and know the facts about teen pregnancy, violence, school failure, substance abuse, sexually-transmitted diseases, eating disorders, and suicide. We’ve watched the news and stared at images of alienated, angry kids who seem unreachable and doomed. We feel powerless to help because nothing seems to be working long enough, hard enough, or for enough kids.

There is a way to make a difference in the lives of young people and your community!

Search Institute conducted a 152-item survey called “Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors”. More than 46,000, 6th through 12th grade students in 111 communities and 25 states, took part in the first release of this survey. Today, more than 2.2 million students world-wide have participated in this research. When analyzing the results, the Institute asked: Why do some kids grow up with ease, while others struggle? Why do some kids get involved in dangerous activities, while others spend their time contributing to society? Why do some youth “beat the odds” in difficult situations, while others get trapped? What the institute recognized was many factors, including economic circumstances, genetics, and trauma, influence why some young people succeed in life and others have a harder time. These factors seem difficult and even impossible to change, but they are not all that matters. The surveys reveal that the difference between troubled teens and those leading healthy, productive lives is strongly affected by the presence of what we call Developmental Assets.

The usual definition of assets is “property or resources”. Search Institute chose this term because of the things that were identified—building blocks for human development—act like assets in a young person’s life. These assets

Increase in value over time
Provide a sense of security
Equip youth with resources upon which to draw from again and again
Aid young people in making wise decisions and choosing positive paths

And they are cumulative, meaning that the more assets a young person has, the better.

The 40 Developmental Assets are common sense, positive experiences and qualities that help influence choices young people make and ultimately will help them to become caring, responsible adults. Assets promote positive behaviors and attitudes in youth, while at the same time protecting them from taking part in at-risk behaviors. The more assets young people have the more likely they will be successful in all things they do and the less likely they will make harmful or unhealthy choices.