The Effect of Empathy Training Programs on Aggression and Compatibility Students of Elementary Schools in Yazd, Center of Iran

Abstract

Introduction Empathy is believed to play an important role in fostering prosocial behavior and social competence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of empathy teaching on aggression and compatibility in female students of elementary sixth grade in yazd, center of Iran. Materials and Methods The samples were 62 girl students of grade 6 in elementary schools that were selected by available (targeted) sampling among girl students of grade 6 on Yazd. They were put in two groups of control group and experiment group randomly and equally. Data were collected by using empathy questions of Isenberg, Febs, Oscolar, Carlo & Miller, Rater questionnaire about children behavioral disorder and Bus & Perry questionnaire and were analyzed with Mankoo & Ankova methods. Results The mean age of students was 13 ± 0.359 year-old. The Results showed that after controlling scores of pretests, there was a meaningful relationship between two groups in their empathy, social compatibility and aggression and its aspects (like physical aggression, verbal aggression, hostility and anger) scores (P< 0.05). Conclusion The development of empathy with training programs, can have a positive effect on reduce of aggression and increasing of compatibility in students at elementary schools.