The Social Decision Making/Problem Solving (SDM/PS) program was originally developed in 1979 as the Improving Social Awareness--Social Problem Solving Program. SDM/PS is a universal program, meaning it can be provided to any students, rather than targeting those with special characteristics. The program aims to help students acquire social and decision-making skills and to develop their ability to effectively use those skills in real-life and academic situations. More specifically, the program seeks to develop children's self-esteem, self-control, and social awareness skills, including identifying, monitoring, and regulating stress and emotions; increasing healthy lifestyle choices; avoiding social problems such as substance abuse, violence, and school failure; improving group cooperation skills; and enhancing the ability to develop positive peer relationships.

The goal of this program is to help students acquire social and decision-making skills and to develop their ability to effectively use those skills in real-life and academic situations.

The studies of the SDM/PS program were quasi-experimental in design, but they used reasonably well-matched comparison groups and statistical methodology to assess program impacts. When compared with children in control groups, SDM/PS program participants were found to experience significant decreases in depression (boys only), increases in emotional and behavioral control, and decreases in violent behavior and conduct problems.