Some people may readily embrace the idea of participating in Driving Force, while others will be more resistant. Often, those who are resistant to join either harbor mixed feelings about previous programs they’ve been involved in, or they firmly believe that the benefits of their current lifestyle outweigh any potential consequences. The introduction aims to captivate the interest of the reluctant persons by drawing on their actual experiences. It also lays out the program’s core principle: that our thoughts dictate our actions, which in turn yield certain outcomes. 

In the introduction, participants meet the narrator, a young man incarcerated in a fictional jail. They’re guided through various sections of the facility, from the intake to the yard to the barbershop. Participants quickly realize that Driving Force isn’t about presenting an alternate reality; rather, it mirrors aspects of their own experiences. Just like in their own facility, the yard serves not only as a space for recreation but also as a venue for gang meetings. Similarly, there are both compassionate and indifferent staff members.

As the narrator explains the essence of Driving Force, participants witness a tense encounter between two incarcerated individuals. Interpreting a hostile look as a sign of disrespect (thought), one person decides to engage in a fight (action), leading to time in the segregation unit (outcome). Shortly afterward, a nearly identical situation unfolds between two other incarcerated individuals. However, the person being looked at chooses a different thought process (thought), opting not to react (action), and, not long thereafter, he gets released (outcome).

 In short, the purpose of this chapter is the following: