Verbal mediation in young aggressive boys.

Abstract

Aggressive and normal boys from 77 to 97 months of age were compared on measures of verbal ability, types of self-guiding speech, nonverbal intelligence, reading achievement, impulsivity, ability to inhibit responses, and response modulation following overt and covert commands. Discriminant function analysis resulted in correct classification of 88% of the cases. Variables with high scores contributing to classification as aggressive included vocabulary, immature and irrelevant private speech, fast reaction times, baseline speed of finger tapping, inhibition errors, and speed of responding during covert commands for slowing. Results were interpreted as consistent with the formulation that young aggressive boys fail to use verbal mediational activity in many situations in which it would be appropriate, and when it does occur, covert mediational activity may fail to achieve functional control over behavior. It is hypothesized that both learning and behavior problems in aggressive boys may be symptomatic of an ineffective linguistic control system.Aggressive behavior problems in the early school years are highly related to later delinquency (Conger & Miller, 1966; Click, 1972) and/or psychopathology (Robins, 1966). These problems, especially in boys, also account for the majority of referrals to mental health services in childhood and at older ages are commonly associated with serious learning problems (Miller, Hampe, Barrett, & Noble, 1971). Although similarities in behavior and cognitive functioning of young aggressive and older delinquent boys have been reported (Farrington & West, 1971), very little is known about whether or how cognitive and

Locus of control and three types of aggression

“…The study provides further indication of substantial differences between male and female aggression: the further being related to external locus of control, the latter not, at least at this particular age. The fact that external locus of control correlated with aggression in boys is further in line with the findings of Camp [1977], who suggested that aggressive boys have a control deficiency, and Rodriguez and Rivera [June 1990], who found self-control techniques to reduce aggressive behaviors in adolescent boys.…”

How to Handle Students Exhibiting Violent Behaviors

“…Teachers should guard against the use of punitive, confrontational, and deprecatory methods because these have been shown to increase the possibility of violent reactions from students (Rock 1992). Students who exhibit violent behavior often do not employ appropriate methods of communicating feelings of anger and use a verbal style that lacks verbal mediation skills (Camp 1977). Instruction in appropriate communication methods in stressful situations should be an essential part of the educational program throughout the school year.…”

El papel de las automanifestaciones en las terapias cognitivo-conductuales

“…h) Análisis sobre el estilo de pensar y de conducirse de niños cognitivamente impulsivos (Douglas et col., 1976;Dickie, 1973). i) La relación entre el lenguaje interiorizado y el estilo conductual en niños agresivos fue analizada por Camp (1977) Borkowski y Cavanaugh (1978). k) En el área de la conducta académica, además del estudio de la resistencia a la tentación, se ha estudiado la demora de la gratificación (Mischel, 1974(Mischel, , 1981(Mischel, , 1981a, la solución de problemas (Stone, Hinds y Schmidt, 1975;Spivack y Shure, 1974, etcétera.…”