Effects of Developing Alternative Responses on the Aggressive Behavior of Adolescents

Two studies investigated the relationship between antecedent events and aggressive behavior of adolescents in school and home settings. Antecedent events were examined to identify conditions contributing to aggressive acts and to indicate alternative responses to the acts. Videotaped samples of social situations were shown to the subjects and used to provide opportunities for modeling and behavioral rehearsal of alternative responses. In one study, treatment was conducted in individual sessions, and in the other, treatment was conducted in a small group arrangement. Results indicate that when the adolescents substituted alternative responses for aggressive acts, decreases occurred in the frequency of aggressive behavior and antecedent events associated with the behavior. Concomitant increases in antecedent events conducive to prosocial behaviors were also noted.