NCJ Number
152970
Editor(s)
M J Furlong,
D C Smith
Date Published
1994
Length
523 pages
Annotation
Helping youth with anger-related problems is explored.
Abstract
This comprehensive reference book compiles information written by various authors concerning intervention programs for youth who are felt to exhibit behaviors associated with conduct disorders or antisocial behavior patterns as well as prevention programs for youth anger management and aggression control. The book is divided into four sections. Section One presents key definitional and conceptual issues that are important to understanding anger in the lives of youth. Research pertaining to how anger, hostility, and aggression impact the lives of both children and adults is examined. Also included is a review of research about how children's attributional reasoning processes can affect aggressive behavior. Section Two includes chapters that focus on physical and biological factors related to the expression of anger or aggressive behaviors, and influences that are particularly salient to the lives of youth: family, the classroom setting, and sociocultural factors. Section Three presents three complementary approaches to the assessment of anger, hostility, and aggression in children and adolescents. Self-report and rating scales that focus specifically on the affective, cognitive, or behavioral aspects of anger are described. A practical guide for conducting observations of anger-related behaviors is provided. Section Four presents five approaches to developing anger prevention and intervention programs for youth. Programs that focus on a specific aspect of anger coping include the BrainPower Program, used to help elementary-aged boys to evaluate more accurately the intentions of their peers in ambiguous social interactions. Strategies for teaching aggressive youth the social skills they need to cope with stressful situations and to express their anger more effectively are analyzed. A detailed description of a group counseling program designed to influence youths' anger-related attitudes and beliefs is provided as are suggestions for dealing with youth who react in an impulsive, explosive manner when angry. A guide for implementing anger management for individuals with developmental disabilities is explained. Anecdotal case studies are presented to illustrate the various strategies. References, subject index