Table 1.

Overview of Incremental Theory and Coping Skills Interventions

Session	Incremental theory (treatment)	Coping skills (control)
1 and 2	Message: Neuroanatomy + How the brain changes with learning.	Message: Neuroanatomy + How the brain can be used for learning.
	Activities: Team-building; lectures; complete “brain challenge” worksheets.	Activities: Team-building; lectures; complete “brain challenge” worksheets.
3 and 4	Message: People's personalities live partially in their brains, and brains can be changed.	Message: Use productive coping strategies and avoid unproductive coping strategies.
	Activities: Lectures; practice using the incremental theory in response to hypothetical rejections or interpersonal conflicts.	Activity: Lectures; practice using the coping strategies in response to hypothetical rejections or interpersonal conflicts.
5 and 6	Message: People have many motivations for their actions besides their personalities (like thoughts and feelings), and some of these can also change.	Message: Think positively: avoid “thought distortions” like “overgeneralization” or “all or nothing thinking” and this will help keep your life in balance.
	Activities: Write and perform skits using the incremental message in response to rejection or conflict; small-group discussions; final writing assignments.	Activities: Write and perform skits using coping skills in response to rejection or conflict; small-group discussions; final writing assignments.