The impact of reappraisal skills on aggressive children

Abstract

The study investigated the effects of reappraisal training on aggressive children. A pre–post–follow‐up, experimental–control design was used to evaluate the impact of a small‐group intervention that offered practice in reappraisal skills to 89 aggressive children (another 60 were wait‐listed). Results indicate that treatment children benefitted in these skills more than their peers. Based on multiple sources of the report (child, parent, teacher), results also point to reduced aggression, anger, anxiety, and social problems, and an increase in self‐regulation, all of which sustained at follow‐up 7–8 months later. Finally, many outcomes were correlated with benefits in reappraisal skills. Qualitative data gleaned from the study supports these benefits and sheds light on group processes that were helpful. The findings suggest that reappraisal skills training is a useful intervention with aggressive children and can be successfully delivered in small groups.

Interactive virtual reality assessment of aggressive social information processing in boys with behaviour problems: A pilot study

“…Moreover, intervention studies have shown that changing children's SIP can reduce aggression (Lochman et al, 2017;Lochman et al, 2019;Maixner-Schindel & Shechtman, 2021;Wilson & Lipsey, 2006). Given the important role of SIP underlying children's aggression, valid assessment of SIP is essential.…”

“…Children's aggression has been shown to derive from deviations in each of these SIP steps, such as perceiving more threatening cues, attributing more hostile intentions to others, pursuing revenge or instrumental goals more often, generating more aggressive responses and evaluating aggressive responses more positively (for reviews, see De Castro & Van Dijk, 2017; Dodge, 2011). Moreover, intervention studies have shown that changing children's SIP can reduce aggression (Lochman et al, 2017; Lochman et al, 2019; Maixner‐Schindel & Shechtman, 2021; Wilson & Lipsey, 2006). Given the important role of SIP underlying children's aggression, valid assessment of SIP is essential.…”