NCJ Number
132620
Journal
Developmental Psychology Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: (1990) Pages: 269-277
Date Published
1990
Length
9 pages
Annotation
One hundred-twenty male and female juveniles incarcerated for aggression offenses participated in a 12-session intervention program designed to remediate cognitive factors identified as correlates of aggression. The program, based on a model of social-cognitive development, divided participants into three groups: the cognitive mediation training program, an attention control group, and a no-treatment group.
Abstract
Compared with the adolescents in both control groups, those in the treatment group showed increased ability to solve social problems; decreased belief in the efficacy of aggression; and decreased aggressive, impulsive, and inflexible behaviors. Posttest aggression was directly associated with change in cognitive factors. There were no significant differences detected in the number of parole violators up to 24 months after release. While the results show initial support for the use of cognitive mediation training in altering aggressive behavior in adolescent offenders, there is a need to continue to investigate the effectiveness of assessment-based treatment programs that encourage social-cognitive development. 3 tables and 42 references (Author abstract modified)