Assignment

Once a child or adolescent engages in violent or aggressive behavior, the behavior is very difficult to change. This is partly because aggression often works as a strategy for children and adolescents to get what they want, and it is self-reinforcing. There are several evidence-based strategies for helping children and adolescents control themselves and refrain from violent or aggressive behavior. It is important to understand which strategy would be most effective given the needs of the children or adolescents, their culture, their situation, and the amount of support they may or may not receive from their parents or guardians. Consequently, one primary focus in working with parents of aggressive children or adolescents is to help them learn how to say “no” and to stay firm, despite their child’s or adolescent’s violent or aggressive behavior.