Från aggression mot konstruktivt beteende

Abstract

SUMMARYVarious theories of aggression and their implications to the possibilities and ways to control aggressive behaviour are shortly reviewed. The author is in favour of the social learning theory but lays a strong emphasis on cognitive aspects in the control of aggression. She appraizes critically the applications of the reinforcement-paradigm to the regulation of aggression and considers cognitive clarification as an important condition of teaching constructive behaviour. Cognitive clarification increases the feelings of empathy and awareness of social values as well as of behaviours in accordance with them. A simulation method developed by the author for group guidance towards constructive behaviour is described. It consists of exercises in creative problem solving, an analysis of series of slides on conflict situations, and of role playing. The ethical problems of behaviour modification are discussed with the conclusion that if the aim of the training is to increase awareness of behavioural alternat...