Two Techniques For Managing The Behaviors Of An Aggressive Child
When a kid hits, yells, screams, or bites, many parents view the behavior through one of two lenses: It’s indicative of a deep-seated anger issue or desperation for catharsis. According to Alan Kazdin, PhD, Yale University Professor of Child Psychology, those are mid-century perspectives that modern research has debunked. A seemingly angry kid won’t necessarily become an angry adult, and in all likelihood, won’t be a great athlete either. In fact, a seemingly angry kid may not be angry at all.
“We really don’t need the old views anymore because they haven’t helped, and they haven’t been supported,” Kazdin explains. “Many people who are angry do not hit walls. The issue has to do with all kinds of other things.”
Kazdin, who serves as the director of the Yale Parenting Center, points out that childhood violence can be caused by issues with the brain circuits for impulsiveness or the fact that engaging in (or watching) aggressive behavior triggers the same rewards systems adults tickle with drugs, sex, and food. It could even be that the behaviors have genetic links, exacerbated by corporal punishment or violent media. Having worked with kids he characterizes as “the most aggressive and the most violent children possible,” Kazdin is as focused on parental inputs as children’s violent outputs.
“If your partner has 20 wonderful traits, and one annoying little thing, you’re focusing on that. That’s normal,” he explains. “The parent is missing endless opportunities to run up and say, ‘You’ve been great so far today,’ and pat them on the head.”
Research rejects the idea that positive reinforcement is some sort of “hippie layover.” The notion that kids are soft because they receive too much praise may contain an unsubtle, unscientific insight: Hard kids can be softened with compliments.
“If you want your kid to stop hitting the wall, we can almost guarantee that punishing hitting the wall is going to do zip,” says Kazdin. “On the other hand, praising the child for not doing that works.”
Another technique is to leverage simulation, a technique Kazdin uses with the most explosive children he works with. Kazdin’s simulations work by role-playing a triggering scenario. The kid is then coached to respond to the role-play with an appropriate behavior, like crossed arms and an angry scowl. When they do respond correctly, specific praise is given. Slowly, the reaction can be crafted and honed. Reactions require practice, and in a sense, muscle memory.
“The key to changing the behavior of a child is not having the child ‘understand.’ That’s ridiculous,” says Kazdin. “They need to practice the behavior repeatedly. We can’t get you to play Rachmaninoff by explaining how Rachmaninoff works.”
What’s more, with this approach, behavioral practice brain scans show actual changes in the brain as the kid gets better.
Still, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution and some kids do exhibit violent or disruptive behavior that is part of a larger issue that warrants more aggressive intervention. “The warning sign is a complaint from someone else,” says Kazdin. “It will often be the school. It’s about impairment. Any time a behavior is interfering with functioning in daily life.” If the behavior is truly worrisome, Kazdin suggests that parents take their children to the pediatrician. Nearly half of pediatric visits are for behavioral issues, which makes family doctors the first line of defense in catching intervention-worthy behaviors. That’s a good news because medical professionals generally don’t cling to outdated ideas of how to handle violent behavior.
Like Kazdin, they keep up with research and look for results. They’re not infallible, but they’re focused on not making the same mistakes twice or giving in to bad impulses.
“Science isn’t for everybody,” Kazdin laughs. “What can you do? I’m doing my best.”
This post originally appeared on Fatherly.
