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What are Developmental Assets?

Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets^® are concrete, common sense, positive experiences and qualities essential to raising successful young people. These assets have the power during critical adolescent years to influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults.

The list below describes the 40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents (ages 12-18).

Visit our page of Asset Lists for translations and lists for other age groups.

The 40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents


Asset Type	Asset Name	Asset Definition

EXTERNAL ASSETS
Support	Family support	Family life provides high levels of love and support.

	Positive family communication	Young person and her or his parent(s) communicate positively, and young person is willing to seek advice and counsel from parent(s).

	Other adult relationships	Young person receives support from three or more nonparent adults.

	Caring neighborhood	Young person experiences caring neighbors.

	Caring school climate	School provides a caring, encouraging environment.

	Parent involvement in schooling	Parent(s) are actively involved in helping young person succeed in school.

Empowerment	Community values youth	Young person perceives that adults in the community value youth.

	Youth as resources	Young people are given useful roles in the community.

	Service to others	Young person serves in the community one hour or more per week.

	Safety	Young person feels safe at home, at school, and in the neighborhood.

Boundaries and Expectations	Family boundaries	Family has clear rules and consequences, and monitors the young person's whereabouts.

	School boundaries	School provides clear rules and consequences.

	Neighborhood boundaries	Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young people's behavior.

	Adult role models	Parent(s) and other adults model positive, responsible behavior.

	Positive peer influence	Young person's best friends model responsible behavior.

	High expectations	Both parent(s) and teachers encourage the young person to do well.

Constructive Use of Time	Creative activities	Young person spends three or more hours per week in lessons or practice in music, theater, or other arts.

	Youth programs	Young person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs, or organizations at school and/or in community organizations.

	Religious community	Young person spends one hour or more per week in activities in a religious institution.

	Time at home	Young person is out with friends "with nothing special to do" two or fewer nights per week.

INTERNAL ASSETS
Commitment to Learning	Achievement motivation	Young person is motivated to do well in school.

	School engagement	Young person is actively engaged in learning.

	Homework	Young person reports doing at least one hour of homework every school day.

	Bonding to school	Young person cares about her or his school.

	Reading for pleasure	Young person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week.

Positive Values	Caring	Young person places high value on helping other people.

	Equality and social justice	Young person places high value on promoting equality and reducing hunger and poverty.

	Integrity	Young person acts on convictions and stands up for her or his beliefs.

	Honesty	Young person "tells the truth even when it is not easy."

	Responsibility	Young person accepts and takes personal responsibility.

	Restraint	Young person believes it is important not to be sexually active or to use alcohol or other drugs.

Social Competencies	Planning and decision making	Young person knows how to plan ahead and make choices.

	Interpersonal competence	Young person has empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills.

	Cultural competence	Young person has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds.

	Resistance skills	Young person can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations.

	Peaceful conflict resolution	Young person seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently.

Positive Identity	Personal power	Young person feels he or she has control over "things that happen to me."

	Self-esteem	Young person reports having a high self-esteem.

	Sense of purpose	Young person reports that "my life has a purpose."

	Positive view of personal future	Young person is optimistic about her or his personal future.
This list is an educational tool. It is not intended to be nor is it appropriate as a scientific measure of the developmental assets of individuals. Copyright © 1997, 2007 by Search Institute. All rights reserved. This chart may be reproduced for educational, noncommercial use only (with this copyright line). No other use is permitted without prior permission from Search Institute, 615 First Avenue N.E., Suite 125, Minneapolis, MN 55413; 800-888-7828. See Search Institute's Permissions Guidelines and Request Form. The following are registered trademarks of Search Institute: Search Institute^®, Developmental Assets^® and Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth^®.

Download the 40 Developmental Assets® in PDF