Psychosocial Intervention for Youth With High Externalizing Behaviors and Aggression Is Associated With Improvement in Impulsivity and Brain Gray Matter Volume Changes

Background: Stop, Now And Plan (SNAP) is a cognitive behavioral-based psychosocial intervention that has a strong evidence base for treating youth with high aggression and externalizing behaviors, many of whom have disruptive behavior disorders. In a pre-post design, we tested whether SNAP could improve externalizing behaviors, assessed by the parent-rated Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and also improve behavioral measures of impulsivity in children with high aggression and impulsivity. We then investigated whether any improvement in externalizing behavior or impulsivity was associated with gray matter volume (GMV) changes assessed using structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI). We also recruited typically developing youth who were assessed twice without undergoing the SNAP intervention.Methods: Ten children who were participating in SNAP treatment completed the entire study protocol. CBCL measures, behavioral measures of impulsivity, and sMRI scanning was conducted pre-SNAP and then 13 weeks later post-SNAP. Twelve healthy controls also completed the study; they were rated on the CBCL, performed the same behavioral measure of impulsivity, and underwent sMRI twice, separated by 13 weeks. They did not receive the SNAP intervention.Result: At baseline, SNAP participants had higher CBCL scores and performed worse on the impulsivity task compared with the healthy controls. At the second visit, SNAP participants still had higher scores on the CBCL compared with normally-developing controls, but their performance on the impulsivity task had improved to the point where their results were indistinguishable from the healthy controls. Structural magnetic resonance imaging in the SNAP participants further revealed that improvements in impulsivity were associated with GMV changes in the frontotemporal region.Conclusion: These results suggest that SNAP led to improvement in behavioral measures of impulsivity in a cohort of boys with high externalizing behavior. Improvement in impulsivity was also associated with increased GMV changes. The mechanism behind these brain changes is unknown but could relate to cognitive behavioral therapy and contingency management interventions, important components of SNAP, that target frontotemporal brain regions. Clinically, this study offers new evidence for the potential targeting of brain regions by non-invasive modalities, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, to improve externalizing behavior and impulsivity.

Monitoring or payroll maximization? What happens when workers enter the boardroom?

We examine whether worker representation on corporate boards results in improved monitoring or payroll maximization. Several economic theories predict that worker representatives would use control and voting rights in the boardroom to transform firm assets into private benefits and increased wages, but labor contract models suggest that workers’ inside information should permit improved monitoring. To investigate this conflict, we use mandatory worker representation on corporate boards in Germany. Using hand-collected data, our results suggest that the worker representatives’ payroll maximization incentives dominate their monitoring duties. Specifically, worker representatives reduce real earnings management when it results in wage cuts or job losses but not when it increases payroll or job security. Similarly, worker representatives are generally associated with improved monitoring of tax planning activities. However, when the risk of offshoring jobs is high, worker representatives do not promote tax planning for low-aggression firms and instead block aggressive tax planning for high-aggression firms. This evidence helps policymakers and researchers better understand the role of workers in corporate governance systems and contributes to the ongoing public debate about introducing worker representation in the United States and the United Kingdom.

PSYCHOLOGICAL INHIBITORS OF INTELLIGENCE OF FUTURE TEACHERS

The article presents the results of theoretical and empirical research aimed at studying the psychological inhibitors of intelligence of students who will work as teachers in the future. Analysis of the literature on the topic allowed to clarify the content of the main psychological phenomena being studied, to choose parameters that represent intelligence at the formal-dynamic and content-personal levels, as well as psychological properties that can hypothetically inhibit the intelligence of future teachers. Correlation analysis proved: 1) the complex and ambiguous nature of the relationships between the parameters under study; 2) the negative nature of the relationship of a number of indicators of general and social intelligence with indicators of anxiety and aggression, and positive one with indicators of conflict resilience; 3) only indicators of the style "field-dependence/field-independence" have significant negative links with hypothetical inhibitors of intelligence (indicator of personal anxiety) among a number of cognitive-stylistic indicators. Based on the purpose and research tasks, 6 groups of future teachers were created. The first group includes subjects with a low level of anxiety (LA) - 10 people, the second one with a high level of anxiety (HA) - 10 people, the third group - with a low level of aggression - 10 people (LA), the fourth - with a high level of aggression (HA) - 10 people, the fifth group - subjects with a high level of conflict resistance (HC), the sixth - with a low (LC). By means of the qualitative analysis the information on individual-typical features of intelligence of persons with various levels of the specified properties was received, their comparison was carried out. Future teachers with high anxiety, high aggression, low conflict resistance are inferior to colleagues with opposite characteristics in a number of parameters of general and social intelligence. As shown by the results of observations and conversations with these subjects, this leads to significant problems in their professional development, creates for them certain difficulties in various spheres of life. Qualitative analysis has shown that anxiety, aggression and conflict resilience can act as inhibitors of intelligence. However, firstly, it depends on their severity (high anxiety, high aggression and low conflict resistance can act as inhibitors) and secondly, if anxiety acts as an inhibitor, both at the cognitive-stylistic and content-personal levels of intelligence, aggression and conflict resistance act only on the latter one. In addition, their influence affects social intelligence and, unlike anxiety, does not extend to general intelligence.

Examination of toy preferences – play skills and aggression tendencies of 60–72-month-old children

The purpose of this research is the examination of toy preferences and play skills of 60–72-month-old children according to aggression tendencies. The study group of this research includes 307 people consisting of 60–72-month-old children continuing their kindergarten in Cukurova district of Adana and their parents. As data collection tools, ‘Personal Information Form’, ‘Informed Consent Form’ and ‘Toy Preference Form’ were prepared by the researchers to learn the toy preferences of the children after reviewing the relevant thesis. The ‘Aggression Tendency Scale’ and ‘Play Skill Scale’ were used. In accordance with the studies carried out, it is seen that the play skills of the participants differ according to the aggression tendency levels in all sub-dimensions of the aggression tendency scale and there is a negative interrelation. In addition to this, it is seen that the most preferred toys among the children with a high aggression tendency level in all sub-dimensions of the aggression tendency scale are the war toys. It is suggested to make attempts for the determination of the variables effective on the aggression tendency levels and play skills, realisation of more scientific researches regarding the issue of aggression that might have devastating results in social terms and the development of the play skills of the experts working with the children. Keywords: Toy preference, play skill, aggression tendency.

Co-occurring Trajectories of Direct Aggression and Prosocial Behaviors in Childhood: Longitudinal Associations With Peer Acceptance

This study examined the longitudinal associations among children’s direct (physical and verbal) aggression, prosocial behaviors, and peer group acceptance in middle childhood (Grades 1 to 4). Children’s co-occurring aggressive and prosocial behaviors were assessed in order to identify distinct trajectory subgroups. Subsequently, variations in the development (i.e., continuity and changes) in peer acceptance were examined for each of the identified subgroups. The sample consisted of 784 children who were ethnically and socioeconomically diverse (47% girls, 37.4% Latino or Hispanic, 34.1% European American, and 23.2% African American; about 65% low SES) who were followed longitudinally from Grades 1 to 4 (Mage = 6.57 years old in Grade 1). Results revealed several distinct trajectory subgroups, including children who were primarily aggressive or prosocial, as well as children who exhibited co-occurring aggression and prosocial behaviors. Comparing these subgroups, the use of co-occurring prosocial behaviors appeared to have some protective effect on aggressive children’s peer acceptance. However, aggression was nonetheless associated with lower peer acceptance. The findings provide insights pertaining to the heterogeneity among aggressive children, the protective effects of prosocial behaviors on peer acceptance, and the differential effects of moderate versus high aggression.

Estudio Transversal: Conducta de agresión en estudiantes de quinto año de secundaria de cuatro instituciones educativas periféricas de Lima, Perú

BACKGROUND: Aggression among schoolchildren is a growing problem, affecting their educational, social and cultural well-being. In this context, aggression has become an aim of study for Social Sciences, from various approaches. The intensity of this problem negatively impacts on children and adolescents lives. Numerous studies report that events of violence and/or aggression in schools can generate physical and emotional damage to schoolchildren, learning difficulties due to post-trau-matic stress disorder, demotivation, absenteeism and school dropout. The aim of this study was to establish the level of aggression in fifth-year high school students from high schools in Lima, Peru. METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative exploratory study. The Buss and Perry, Aggres-sion Questionnaire was applied and adapted to the context. The content validity was obtained with Aiken’s V coefficient (0.80) for each item and dimension. The Kolmogorov- Smirnov normality test was used for data analysis. Data is presented in charts, with frequencies and percentages. RESULTS: The study was applied to a sample of 274 adolescents, aged 15 to 18 years. High levels of aggression were found in the students (54.8%; High aggression level: 38.6%, very high aggression level: 16.2%), with a predominance in the male group (43%), compared to 34% in women. Regarding the aggression dimensions, we found high levels, in verbal aggression (40%), followed by physical aggression and hostility (38%) and finally anger (37%). CONCLUSION: After data processing, high levels of aggression were found among fifth-year high schools students from peripheral areas of Lima. Regarding gender, a predominance of high-level aggression was found in males over females. About aggression dimensions, we found a high level of verbal aggression, followed by physical aggression and hostility, finally by anger. KEYWORDS: BEHAVIOR, AGGRESSION, TEENAGER, ANGER, HOSTILIT

Personality of patients with central serous chorioretinopathy

Introduction: Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is a disease of the retina that is a frequent cause of mild to moderate visual impairment. The disease can be precipitated by psychosocial stress and hypercortisolism while full remission will often be spontaneous within a few months. Risk factors have included male gender, increased plasma cortisol due to other conditions or steroid use and Type A behavior. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study comparing three research groups that included 100 CSC patients, 200 healthy volunteers, and 200 patients with other ophthalmic disease on their results in the Zuckerman–Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire (ZKPQ). Results: CSC patients differed from the other subjects on increased high Neuroticism-Anxiety, low Sociability, and high Aggression-Hostility. Conclusions: Since high Neuroticism is related to increased cortisol levels only in males, and high Aggression-Hostility is related to increased cortisol response, these findings point to the possibility of a robust neurobiological background to the etiopathogenesis of CSC that merits further research. The association of Type A behavior with CSC may be a spurious one and its widespread reference in ophthalmology texts should be re-examined.

Despotic aggression in pre-moulting painted buntings

Aggression in territorial social systems is easy to interpret because the benefits of territorial defence mostly accrue to the territorial holder. However, in non-territorial systems, high aggression seems puzzling and raises intriguing evolutionary questions. We describe extreme rates of despotism between age classes in a passerine bird, the painted bunting ( Passerina ciris ), during the pre-moulting period. Aggressive encounters were not associated with aggressors gaining immediate access to resources. Instead, conspecifics, and even other species, were pursued as though being harassed; this aggression generated an ideal despotic habitat distribution such that densities of adult males were higher in high-quality sites. Aggression was not a by-product of elevated testosterone carried over from the breeding season but, rather, appeared associated with dehydroepiandrosterone, a hormone that changes rates of aggression in non-breeding birds without generating the detrimental effects of high testosterone titres that control aggression in the breeding season. This extraordinary pre-moult aggression seems puzzling because individual buntings do not hold defined territories during their moult. We speculate that this high aggression evolved as a means of regulating the number of conspecifics that moulted in what were historically small habitat patches with limited food for supporting the extremely rapid moults of painted buntings.

Allometry and Fighting Behaviour of a Dimorphic Stag Beetle Cyclommatus mniszechi (Coleoptera: Lucanidae)

Male stag beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) use their mandibles as weapons to compete for resources and reproduction. Mandible size in stag beetles can be associated with different behaviours and the outcome of male contests. We investigated the allometric relationship between mandible and body size in males of the stag beetle Cyclommatus mniszechi to uncover distinct morphs. The results divided male C. mniszechi into majors and minors with the switch point of mandible length at 14.01 mm. The allometric slope of mandibles was positive for both morphs but was steeper for the minors. We also characterised the fighting behaviour of the different morphs in size-matched contests using sequential analyses. Males matched each other’s behaviour in contests with many physical contacts, no injury and a progression from low towards high aggression and rare de-escalation. Major and minor males employed the same behavioural elements in contests, but major males were more likely to escalate directly into more aggressive phases and minor males tended to stay within phases. This finding suggests that major males may compete more aggressively than minor males in contests.

PENERAPAN COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL ART THERAPY (CBAT) UNTUK MENURUNKAN AGRESIVITAS PADA REMAJA LPKA X

Remaja merupakan periode transisi antara masa anak-anak dan masa dewasa yang melibatkan perubahan-perubahan pada aspek biologis, kognitif maupun psikososial. Remaja yang tidak dapat mengelola emosinya secara efektif dapat menyebabkan perasaan tertekan, kemarahan, kurang mampu meregulasi emosi yang selanjutnya menimbulkan berbagai masalah dalam akademik, kenakalan remaja seperti tawuran dan penyalahgunaan obat. Cognitive Behavioral Art Therapy (CBAT) adalah bentuk terapi di mana partisipan terlibat dalam cara berpikir tentang masalah mereka. Partisipan dapat mempersepsikan masalah mereka dari perspektif baru melalui gambar dan sadar terhadap perasaan dan pikirannya. CBAT biasa digunakan dalam praktik untuk memberikan penanganan pada kasus untuk mengatasi masalah emosi dan perasaan seperti marah, cemas, pasca trauma, dan berbagai kelompok depresi dan penyakit kronis. Untuk saat ini, CBAT belum banyak diterapkan dalam penanganan kasus klinis terutama di Indonesia pada kasus agresi pada remaja. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah partisipan dapat mengendalikan rasa marah sehingga dapat menurunkan perilaku agresi yang seringkali ditampilkan dalam bentuk perilaku negatif seperti marah, kasar, mengejek, atau memukul. Desain dalam penelitian ini adalah kuasi-eksperimen. CBAT dilakukan sebanyak 10 sesi untuk menurunkan agresivitas. Terdapat 6 partisipan dalam penelitian yang merupakan hasil screening awal dengan menggunakan alat ukur agresivitas buss dan perry, skala moral Kohlberg, Edward Personal Personality Scale (EPPS), serta tes draw a person yang menunjukkan adanya karakteristik agresi yang tinggi pada partisipan. Evaluasi dilakukan dengan mengukur kembali tingkat agresivitas dengan alat ukur agresivitas buss dan perry, dan tes draw a person. Hasil intervensi menunjukkan adanya penurunan pada skala agresivitas keenam partisipan setelah diberikan intervensi CBAT. Adolescence is a transition period between childhood and adulthood which involves changes in biological, cognitive and psychosocial aspects. Adolescents who cannot manage their emotions effectively can cause feelings of depression, anger, lack of ability to regulate emotions which in turn causes various problems in academics and juvenile delinquency such as brawl and drug abuse. Cognitive Behavioral Art Therapy (CBAT) is a form of therapy in which participants engage in ways of thinking about their problems. Participants can perceive their problems from a new perspective through pictures and be aware of their feelings and thoughts. CBAT is commonly used in cases to overcome emotional and feelings problems such as anger, anxiety, post-trauma, and various groups of depression and chronic illness. At present, CBAT has not been widely applied in the handling of clinical cases, especially in Indonesia in cases of aggression in adolescents. The purpose of this study is to help participants control their anger to reduce aggressive behavior that is often displayed in the form of negative behavior such as anger, abusive, bullying, or hitting. The design of this study is quasi-experimental. CBAT was carried out over as many as 10 sessions to reduce aggression. There were 6 participants in the study which were the results of initial screening using measuring tools of buss and perry aggression, Kohlberg's moral scale, Edward Personal Personality Scale (EPPS), and draw a person test that showed high aggression characteristics in the participants. Evaluation is done by measuring the level of aggression using the buss and perry aggression questionnaire, and draw a person test. The results of the intervention showed a decrease in the scale of the aggression of the six participants after being given the CBAT intervention.