Reactive Aggressors

Introduction

This section illustrates how to use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to individually counsel a reactive aggressor. By watching these videos and instructions, social workers or counsellors will learn how to evaluate a student’s irrational beliefs and challenge his/her cognitive distortions.

 

Sze’s case

Student A fainted during recess, and student B hurried to find the teacher to report the incident. On the way, B bumped into Sze accidentally, causing the drink Sze was holding to fall to the ground. Sze was very angry; she chased B and threw a pencil case at her.

Characteristics of reactive aggressors
Cognition
Misinterprets the external cues Hostile attributional bias Cognitive distortion and being defensive Poor problem-solving skills
Emotion
Impulsive Feels angry and loses temper easily Feels depressed/anxious easily Poor emotional control
Behaviour
Tends to use aggression as a mean to solve social conflicts Displays aggressive behaviour with the intention of retaliation Displays defensive response under provocation
Social network
Excluded by peers Unpopular in peer groups Poor social skills Mistrusts others

 

Evaluation

• Understand how the student perceives social information, and determine what kinds of social cues he/she fails to perceive. Determine the emotional weaknesses that distort his/her cognition.
• Highlight his/her hostile attributional bias and explore his/her irrational beliefs
• Afterwards, encourage the student to reflect on his/her own blind spots. Assist the student to consider other possible outcomes of anticipated events.

 

Dispute irrational beliefs and reconstruction

• Help the student to understand how irrational beliefs lead to anger and impulsivity, how to change subjective feelings and impulsive behaviour and how to improve objectivity and calmness.
• Train the student to strengthen his/her ability to consider things from different perspectives, and speculate about possible different results of the incidents.
• Encourage him/her to participate in social services or activities to expand his/her social network.