A Case Study of Aggression
Aggression can be defined as violent moods, fuming, or actions. An individual who is exhibiting aggression may not necessarily demonstrate violence. Sometimes individual violence maybe as a result of aggression but not all aggressive actions can be brought by violent performances. To better understand aggression, I have considered a teenage boy’s case study in court for exhibiting violent behavior. The teenage boy, John, of sixteen years of age, finds himself in trouble for acting angry. He was a student remaining with a couple of months to clear his higher-level education and graduate. Isaac was expelled because of his constant violent behaviors in school. The teenager lives with his older sisters, who all left home due to their parents often shouting at them and having physical fights several times.
In the study, Isaac’s behavior cannot be tolerated anymore after being rude to his teacher. His teacher assigned him detention after failing to complete the given assignment. Instead of going for detention, he decides to through a book at his teacher’s desk. This angry act, in addition to his previous record of violence, results in him being expelled. His behavior attracted police innervation and was taken to court. The judge ordered he attends therapy sessions or serves a jail term in a juvenile prison. In his therapy sessions, Isaac feels ashamed and apologetic for his acts. He confesses to the therapist it is not always his intention to start fighting or any violent actions, only that at some points, he is extremely angry with little things. While responding to the therapist, he confesses that his behavior is, in most cases, irritating but not to the point of being violent. However, when he acts with violence, his aggression is accompanied by exhaustion.
In conclusion, to treat aggression, several methods can be employed depending on each behavior’s reasons. In Isaac’s case, Cognitive behavioral therapy could be best. This therapy focuses on guiding individuals to understand and manage their aggression thoroughly, find better mechanisms to channel their emotions associated with violence and master better mechanisms to evaluate aggression consequences adequately.
References
Averill, J. R. (2012). Anger and aggression: An essay on emotion. Springer Science & Business Media.
Bisconer, S. W., Green, M., Mallon‐Czajka, J., & Johnson, J. S. (2006). Managing aggression in a psychiatric hospital using a behaviour plan: a case study. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 13(5), 515-521.