Assertiveness training with institutionalized delinquents

Abstract

The present study investigated the effectiveness of assertiveness training as a treatment technique for decreasing the aggressive behaviors and improving the interpersonal skills of juvenile delinquents. Specifically, this study compared the relative effectiveness of assertiveness training to a discussion group approach in which no specific behavioral instruction was employed. The subjects were 12 residents of a provincial training school who volunteered to participate in the treatment program. The treatment program was designed to teach the subjects assertive behavior, anger management and the use of negotiation skills. -- The experimental design incorporated both between groups and within group comparisons. The three treatment conditions consisted of an assertiveness training group, a discussion group and a no-treatment control group. An assessment battery was administered to all subjects both before and after the treatment program. Two methods of evaluation were employed to assess treatment effectiveness: a behavioral role-play test and a self-rating problem checklist. The subjects' performances on the Behavioral Role-Play test were independently rated by two judges for six dependent behavioral measures of assertiveness. The problem checklist asessed the frequency of occurrence of problem situations and the level of difficulty associated with handling the situations. -- The results of this study did not reveal significant post-treatment changes in the three groups on any of the six dependent behavioral measures of assertiveness or on the self-rating problem checklist. Hence, the findings of the present study did not confirm the hypothesis that assertiveness training is more effective than a discussion group approach for decreasing aggressive behaviors and improving the interpersonal skills of juvenile delinquents. -- Explanations for treatment ineffectiveness are discussed. Ramifications of the present findings for future research relating to assertiveness training with juvenile delinquents are suggested.