This discussion is drawn from the writings of two eminent founders of strength-based approaches to troubled children and adolescents. August Aichhorn is best known for his classic book, "Wayward Youth," and Fritz Redl as co-author of "Children Who Hate". August Aichhorn and Anna Freud mentored a young educational psychologist, Fritz Redl…

A national panel composed of scholars, educators, clergy, civil rights leaders, and journalists met for a videoconference in 1994 to discuss ways to reclaim violent and aggressive youth. The conference focused on prevention and intervention, and participants worked on disseminating and encouraging the creative policies and programs that are…

A 9-year-old boy presents for assessment and treatment of his reactive, impulsive aggressive behavior that has been present for approximately 2 years. Six months ago, his pediatrician started treatment with OROS methylphenidate (MPH), which was titrated to 36 mg/day. There was moderate improvement in symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity…

Presents Life Space Interview, intervention strategy for use during crisis work with troubled students. Describes use of Massaging Numb Values Life Space Interview, developed to help students in crisis who act out but later become overwhelmed by guilt and remorseful about their destructive behavior. Applies technique to case of 14-year-old girl in…

Discussion of the roots of youth violence and aggression suggest that long-term solutions will be complex and require significant changes in the conditions that contribute to violence, not merely adding more security and swifter or harsher punishments. Questions are posed concerning causes of violence as well as our culture's fundamental…

Counteraggression is discussed as a biological function or survival instinct that escalates violence in schools. Expands Fritz Redl's explanation of underlying reasons why staff dealing with delinquent youth become counteraggressive. Preventing or controlling counteraggressive behavior through analysis of the reasons behind the reaction can help…

Seven steps for dealing with social violence include provide effective consequences, teach nonaggressive responses, stop aggression early, restrict access to instruments of aggression, restrain and reform public displays of aggression, correct conditions of everyday life that foster aggression, and offer more effective instruction and more…

This review describes four major hypotheses related to aggressive behavior and reviews current means for assessment. Hypotheses suggest that aggressive behavior is the result of a social skills deficit, positive or negative reinforcement, environmental deficits, or deficits in the cognitive processing of social stimuli. Changes in assessment…

This article first delineates observations and recommendations of an interdisciplinary group that addressed the issue of school aggression and violence; and then presents recommendations for developing and implementing a systematic response to aggression and violence in schools. Also provided is a list of resources on effective practices in…

The introduction to the special issue looks at the implications for school policy and special education of increasing suicide, abuse, and violence. Nine school responsibilities and three levels of prevention (primary, secondary, and tertiary) are identified. (DB)

This paper argues that the behaviorally disruptive child with aggressive tendencies might function better in a nonmainstreamed situation than in a mainstreamed classroom. Alternative options are presented. (Author/JDD)

The article reviews advantages and disadvantages associated with use of manual restraint to manage aggressive behavior in behavior disordered students. Noted is the common use of manual restraint without empirical validation or full consideration of ethical and legal implications. Guidelines for using manual restraint are offered. (Author/DB)

Teachers working with disturbed children must reframe their concept of the classroom to include affirmation and validation of the children's real-life experiences. Since wounded students who externalize their pain often project it onto those closest to them, teachers should be prepared to engage rather than withdraw. (JPS)

This editorial introduces the papers in this special issue and contends that aggressive, violent student behavior is not the responsibility of schools alone but of the community. It argues that a strong proactive response to aggressive behavior's origins in childhood and effective interventions in schools will have substantial impact on violent…

Primary among the issues in research on school-age children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) is the prediction and control of aggressive behavior. This paper examines issues in the direct measurement of classroom aggression including low base rates, interactional sequences, and reliability. (Author/DB)