INCREASING COPING BEHAVIOR IN CHILDREN WITH AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR:

Abstract

An evaluation of the relative efficacy of the components of a treatment package for aggressive behavior was performed. Twenty-five males (ages 6-9) were selected on the basis of observation and teacher and peer ratings of aggressive behavior. Five subjects were assigned to each group; there were five groups: waiting list control, attention placebo, contingent reward, modeling, and modeling + rehearsal. Five-day baseline and posttreatment phases consisted of daily participation in a verbal taunting game (Goodwin & Mahoney, 1976). Each treatment group (10 days) particpated in a verbal taunting game receiving token reinforcement for coping. The modeling group viewed a 3-minute videotape of a coping model prior to participation, and the modeling + rehearsal group viewed the videotape and verbally rehearsed coping statements prior to participation. Generalization measures on the school playground were conducted throughout the study. The results indicate the effectiveness of contingent reward, modeling, and modeling + rehearsal group procedures, and further indicate that the addition of modeling and rehearsal components to the contingent reward procedure may not be necessary. Suggestions for systematic replication are discussed.