Developing and testing a program for reducing aggressive behavior in adolescents

Abstract

Background. The study considers the problem of increasing aggression and anxiety among teenagers in the modern society. The programs for correction of aggressive behavior allowing for effective work with teenagers are in great demand in psychological practice.

Objectives. Testing the effectiveness of the correctional program “Face of Aggression” which has its purpose to optimize (reduce) the level of aggressiveness and anxiety in teenage schoolchildren.

Study Participants. The study involved 61 schoolchildren aged 11 to 14, of them 26 teenagers made up two training groups and 35 teenagers constituted the control group. The research was carried out on the basis of the Universal Library affiliated to the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research named after D.I. Blokhintsev in Dubna, RF.

Methods. Personal anxiety scale for students aged 10–16 years by A.M. Prikhozhan; Bass — Perry method for assessing the level of aggression; Toronto Alexithymia Scale.

Results. The obtained data analysis demonstrated effectiveness of the correction program “Face of Aggression”. Comparison of the studied psychodiagnostic indicators before and after the training in the experimental group revealed a significant decrease in the level of anger, statistically significant differences in the overall level of aggression, at the trend level — in indicators of physical aggression and the overall level of anxiety.

Conclusions. Aggression and anxiety, which are significant indicators of the difficulties experienced in adolescence, are “two sides of the same coin” and can be reduced by means of the psychological training using Burno’s method. The empirical study confirmed previously obtained data on the relationship between the emotion of anger and hostility as a factor of readiness for aggressive behavior with self-assessment and interpersonal anxiety in adolescents.

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