"Think aloud": a program for developing self-control in young aggressive boys

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Aggressive behavior in young boys is a significant concern.
• Early intervention is crucial for addressing behavioral and cognitive deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the "Think Aloud" training program.
• To improve self-control and cognitive skills in hyperaggressive boys.
• To reduce aggressive behaviors and increase prosocial behaviors.

Main Methods:

• The "Think Aloud" program utilized modeling and verbalization of cognitive strategies.
• Intervention involved daily 30-minute individual sessions over 6 weeks.
• Compared outcomes for trained aggressive boys, untrained aggressive boys, and normal control subjects.

Main Results:

• Teachers reported significant improvements in prosocial behaviors for the trained group compared to controls.
• Cognitive test performance patterns in the trained group shifted from resembling aggressive controls to resembling normal controls.
• While both aggressive groups showed some reduction in aggressive behaviors, the trained group demonstrated greater gains in prosocial actions.

Conclusions:

• The "Think Aloud" program shows potential value in assisting early-grade aggressive boys.
• Verbal mediation skills training can positively impact behavior and cognitive functioning.
• Further refinements may enhance the program's efficacy for diverse populations of aggressive children.