Aggression Replacement Training®

Aggression Replacement Training® is a multi-component cognitive-behavioral treatment to promote pro-social behavior by addressing factors that contribute to aggression in children and adolescents including limited interpersonal social and coping skills, impulsiveness, over-reliance on aggression to meet daily needs, and egocentric and concrete values.A cost benefit analysis by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy finds this program results in reduced criminal behavior and significant cost savings.

Aggression Replacement Training® curriculum has consistently shown positive outcomes across a number of quasi-experimental studies including:

• Reduced criminal behavior
• Decreased conduct problem behaviors
• Increased pro-social behaviors
• Improved anger control

Aggression Replacement Training® consists of three components each of which is conducted with a group of 6-8 youth including Skillstreaming, Anger Control Training, and Moral Reasoning Training.

Skillstreaming

Skillstreaming teaches youth pro-social skills. The approach, developed by Arnold Goldstein, consists of a series of social learning instructional procedures that are used to teach a set of 50 skills. The instructional procedures include:

1. Modeling of pro-social skills.
2. Role-playing—guided practice of the skills.
3. Performance feedback—praise and reinstruction.
4. Transfer training—homework involving applying the new skill in a real life situations.

Anger Control Training

Anger Control Training teaches youth how to manage angry feelings. In a complimentary way, the approach, developed by Eva Feindler and her colleagues, consists of a series of social learning procedures taught across 10 weekly sessions including:

1. Recognizing triggers—external events and internal appraisals that result in angry feelings.
2. Recognizing cues—kinesthetic or other physiological sensations signifying anger.
3. Learning and using reducers—arousal lowering techniques like backward counting, deep breathing, peaceful imagery, and reflection on long-term consequences.
4. Use of reminders—self-instructional statements designed to reinterpret and defuse internal triggers.
5. Use of appropriate Skillstreaming alternatives to anger or aggression.
6. Self-evaluation of the use and results from the anger control sequence.

Moral Reasoning Training

Moral Reasoning Training, through social perspective taking opportunities, teaches youth higher levels of moral reasoning, characterized by mutuality (treating others as you would hope they would treat you), and interdependence and cooperation for the sake of society. The approach consists of facilitated discussion in regards to understanding and responding to a series of moral dilemma vignettes. The group activities include:

1. Introducing the problem situation.
2. Cultivating mature morality.
3. Remediating moral developmental delays.
4. Consolidating mature morality.

CIBHS is pleased to be able to offer Aggression Replacement Training® through its agreement with Educational & Treatment Alternatives, Inc., a recognized provider of Aggression Replacement Training®.