How to address aggressive behaviors in a client
Aggressive behavior among individuals refers to a relentless pattern that threatens or causes harm to other people. Additionally, it is the behavior between members of the society aimed to cause pain, humiliation, and harm. Violent people stand for their rights in an exceptional way, ending up violating the rights of other people. Aggressive people in the general public use aggressive body language and anger to dominate, subjugate, and bully others. The aggressor in this scenario believes he/she is superior and always right; hence, other individuals have no truth and lesser rights.
Undoubtedly, addressing aggressive behaviors in a client is exceedingly difficult. This is because; there are many causes and types of aggressive behaviors. Despite its complexity, there are many theories that have been developed to address the aggressive behavior in individuals. These theories include social learning, drive, and instinct, (Huesmann, 1994). Generally, in addressing aggressive behaviors, it is important to analyze the characteristics of the client, type of aggressive behavior, as well as the cause of this behavior.
Based on instinct theory, individual are often aggressive because of inborn biological drive. Therefore, it can never be eliminated, but should be controlled. It is believed that, aggression develops whether there is an outside or inside provocation or not. Human beings, through evolution have developed the fighting instinct, (Sturmey, & McDonnell, 2010).
Aggressive behaviors are also learned. This is mostly applicable to children; kids tend to learn from their parents, television programs through observation copy it and put into practice outside and inside homes, (Huesmann, 1994). In society, human beings struggle to achieve certain goals; hence, when people are blocked from achieving these goals, they become frustrated. In the process of frustration, aggressive behaviors are developed, but when it is displaced, it can lead to depression.
Strategies employed to reform violent behavior
Violent behavior in the clinical and psychological view has been treated in numerous ways. The best strategy to reform violent behavior is by use of cognitive-behavior approach. Generally, this approach emphasizes that, many behavioral tribulations are upheld by maladaptive cognition, which include beliefs, assumptions, attitudes, and interpretations, (Sturmey & McDonnell, 2010). Hence, helping individuals with violent behavior to develop suitable cognitive skills and habits will reduce the aggressive behavior.
Perhaps, these cognitive habits and skills are integrated into adaptive behaviors of the client, through behavioral skill training process. In this case, the clients can learn and develop pro-social ways of administering typical situations that are likely to elicit violent behaviors, for example, complaining, asking for help, as well as accepting critics.
Another strategy of reforming violent behaviors is motivating clients to change. The factors that motivate people to be aggressive are very complex, and managing them might be difficult, (Huesmann, 1994). The consequences of aggressive conviction make them feel frustrated, regretful, and guilty; hence as a professional psychologist, it is important to motivate the client to shy away from aggressive behaviors and to accept the impacts of his/her behaviors. Interventions to aggressive behaviors include self-control training, relaxation training, contingency management, communication skill training, as well as psychotherapy, (Sturmey & McDonnell, 2010).
References
Huesmann, R. (1994). Aggressive Behavior: Current Perspective. New York: Plenum Press.
Sturmey, P. & McDonnell, A. (2010). Managing Aggressive Behavior in Care Settings. London:
John Wiley & Sons.
