Step-by-Step Guide to Modifying Aggressive Behavior in Children

A mother may find herself facing a real challenge when she notices that her child tends to display aggressive behavior in interactions with others. These behaviors not only create significant tension within the family, but also affect the child’s relationships with peers, who may distance themselves, pushing the child toward isolation and withdrawal, followed by multiple psychological issues. To avoid this, it is important to address the problem promptly without delay and to seek help from specialists to correct negative behaviors effectively. In the following lines, Benaat provides you with valuable information about the causes, symptoms, and ways to deal with aggressive behavior.

What Is Aggressive Behavior?

Aggressive behavior is one of the behavioral and emotional problems that children may experience, causing psychological harm that affects the child, their family, and those around them. This behavior appears in the form of violent and harmful actions toward others, such as hitting, pulling, shouting, or damaging property. It may also take the form of verbal aggression through the use of inappropriate language, or even turn into self-directed aggression that causes harm to the child themselves.

What Are the Causes of Aggressive Behavior?

There are several factors that may drive a child toward aggressive behavior, including:

• Experiencing failure and frustration due to being assigned tasks beyond their abilities.

• Feeling unloved or unaccepted by family members or friends.

• A desire to rebel against adults’ instructions.

• Exposure to harsh punishment or harm from others.

• Imitating violent role models in their immediate environment.

• Watching violent content on television or social media.

• Inconsistent or conflicting instructions between parents.

• Neglect of the child’s feelings and emotional needs.

• Excessive and unbalanced pampering.

• Exposure to bullying due to issues related to appearance or speech.

• Having excessive energy without suitable outlets.

• A desire to attract parents’ attention and assert oneself.

• Inability to express emotions properly, leading to aggressive behavior.

What Are the Symptoms of Aggressive Behavior?

There are clear signs that indicate the presence of aggressive behavior in children, including:

• Using hurtful criticism toward others with harsh language.

• Physical or verbal aggression toward friends or those around them.

• Deliberately damaging or destroying others’ belongings.

• Hiding others’ belongings to annoy them or gain attention.

• Creating chaos and excessive noise wherever they go.

• Extreme irritability, rebellion, and quick temper.

Steps to Correct Aggressive Behavior

Treating aggressive behavior requires prompt intervention and well-planned steps to control the situation before it escalates. Cooperation with specialists is important to choose the most appropriate approach for each case, which may include:

• Psychological therapy: to help the child express emotions and understand the reasons behind their behavior.

• Behavioral therapy: focusing on modifying negative behaviors and reinforcing positive ones.

• Family therapy: aimed at teaching parents how to interact with the child in a healthy way.

• Medication: in some cases, a doctor may recommend medication to manage disorders associated with aggression.

Behavior Modification Course with Benaat

Aggressive behavior can be effectively controlled and a child’s behavior can be modified by consulting specialists who provide clear, evidence-based plans tailored to each case, making it easier to address children’s behavior.

Through Benaat Academy, you will find everything you need to prevent behavioral problems. You can also enroll in the Behavior Modification Course using the Problem and Solution Approach with Dr. Amina El-Saeed, a parenting consultant and behavioral therapist, to help you deal with any behavioral problems in children with awareness and competence.

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