BEHAVIORISTIC PSYCHODRAMA: A TECHNIQUE FOR MODIFYING AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN CHILDREN

Abstract

This paper discusses behavioristic psychodrama, a term and approach devised by the author to modify aggressive "acting out" behavior through a combination of behavioristic psychodramatic and self-monitoring techniques.

The school psychologist is called upon to evaluate and counsel a great number of culturally deprived, socially maladjusted, and emotionally disturbed youngsters. We appear something like emergency repairmen for health workers, social workers, and educational personnel. The difficulty of such a position is not the interpreting of a child's emotional actions and behaviors, but the frustrations encountered in attempting to change or modify such behavior. In many instances parents are uninterested or uncooperative and, consequently, the psychologist in cooperation with the classroom teacher, must modify such behaviors within the learning situation.