NCJ Number
158648
Date Published
1994
Length
42 pages
Annotation
Interventions designed to prevent and treat aggressive and antisocial behavior in children are described, based on the view that aggressive behavior varies widely in type, severity, and chronicity.
Abstract
Aggressive behavior is often present in children who also have other antisocial behaviors (stealing, lying, truancy, and substance abuse) and other sources of impaired functioning (academic dysfunction and delays, poor peer relations, and cognitive deficits and distortions). Beyond the repertoire of children themselves, parent and family dysfunction, socioeconomic disadvantage, high stress, and parental social isolation may be present as well. Multiple response domains of children and broad influences on these domains must be considered in the development of effective interventions for aggressive children. The task of prevention is to avert the onset of aggressive and antisocial behavior and to delimit dysfunction among youth with early signs of aggressive behavior. Promising prevention approaches focus on early parent and family programs, as well as school-based and community-based interventions. Effective treatment approaches are described, including cognitive problem-solving skills training, parent management training, family therapy, and treatment in both school and community settings. The author notes that basic and applied research remains critically important in developing effective interventions, particularly since the development of aggressive and antisocial behavior and influences contributing to that behavior have only begun to be charted. 132 references