NCJ Number
178616
Date Published
1998
Length
363 pages
Annotation
This book examines factors in and the dynamics of aggression in youth and describes the theory and practice of Aggression Replacement Training (ART), which is designed to prevent aggressive behavior.
Abstract
The first chapter details likely sources of aggression, provides updated information on aggression in schools and society, and discusses the broad range of interventions designed to prevent aggression and curb its effects. Chapter 2 provides an overview of the ART program, illustrating how the ART components are integrated by outlining one commonly used curriculum. Chapters 3 through 5 are the heart of the ART program. Each of these chapters is devoted to a single program component: "Skillstreaming," Anger Control Training, or Moral Reasoning Training. Each chapter in turn describes the background and rationale for the component's use, discusses particular implementation concerns, and presents step-by-step training procedures to ensure effective group sessions in that area. The next two chapters focus on two areas critical to program success. Chapter 6 examines trainee motivation and resistance, describing common types of trainee resistance and offering effective means for dealing with it. Often interventions with aggressive youths result in short-term gains; but as discussed in Chapter 7, ensuring generalization of performance is a more difficult matter. This chapter specifies transfer-enhancing and maintenance-enhancing procedures to increase the likelihood that ART trainees will continue to use what they learn from the program outside the training setting. Chapter 8 describes specific program applications and the efforts to assess ART's effectiveness, indicating that when applied properly ART does help trainees think and behave less aggressively. An afterword summarizes what ART has contributed so far to prevent and reduce aggression in youth. 12 figures, 18 tables, 252 references, name and subject indexes, and appended supplementary information