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.
Reactive aggressor
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 aggressor
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.
