CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

       1.1       Background to the Study

Aggression is a serious behavioural and emotional disorder that can occur in adolescents. Adolescents with this disorder may display a pattern of disruptive and violent behaviour and have problems following rules (Hinshaw & Lee, 2003). It is not uncommon for adolescents to have behaviour-related problems at some time during their development. However, the aggression is considered to be a conduct disorder when it is long-lasting and when it violates the rights of others, when it goes against accepted norms of behaviour and disrupts the child's or family's everyday life (Hinshaw & Lee, 2003; Goldberg, 2012). 

The word ―adolescence‖ comes from a Latin word ―adolescere‖ which means to grow or to grow to maturity (Oladele, 1994; Martins, Carlson & Buskist, 2007). Psychologists have given different definitions of adolescence. Some define it as the transitional period of life between childhood and adulthood; while at other times it is called the period of teenage which is marked by changes in the body, mind and social relationships. This means that the transition is as much social as it is biological. Adolescence is the time between the beginning of sexual maturation (puberty) and adulthood. It is a time of psychological maturation during which a person becomes "adult-like" in behaviour. According to Sacks (2003), adolescence begins with the onset of physiologically normal puberty and ends when an adult identity and behaviour are accepted. This period of development corresponds roughly to the period between the ages of 10 and 19, which is consistent with the World Health

Organization‘s definition of adolescence (WHO, 2013). Martins, Carlson & Buskist (2007) opine that adolescence starts from teen age and ends in the early twenties, while Gutgesell & Payne (2004) describe adolescence as a prolonged developmental stage that lasts approximately ten (10) years, nominally described as between the ages of eleven (11) and twenty-one (21). It is also noted that an adolescent progresses through stages of biological development as well as changes in psychological and social functioning. Developing proper emotions and controlling them is very essential during adolescence. Meeting social demands as well as eliminating the damaging effects of the emotions on attitudes, habits, behaviour and physical well-being, as well as control of emotions, is essential. Control does not mean repression but learning to approach a social situation with a rational attitude and repression of those emotions which are socially unacceptable. 

When an individual reaches adolescence, he/she knows what type of behaviour is expected of him or her and which behaviours are unacceptable. Adolescents however misbehave from time to time for a variety of reasons. Perhaps, they feel that they need to assert their own independence or they wish to test the limits imposed on them. Sometimes, adolescents misbehave because they are experiencing internal distress, anger, frustration, disappointment, anxiety, or hopelessness. There are also those whose behaviour is consistently of concern to others. In such cases, the adolescents‘ behaviour is clearly outside the range of what is considered normal or acceptable. Perhaps, most alarming is that many of them show little remorse, guilt, or understanding of the damage and pain inflicted on people by their behaviour (Pruitt, 2000).

The future of any nation is largely determined by the well-being of adolescents. Dealing with adolescents has always been a challenge for both parents and helping professionals. Behavioural disorders typically develop in childhood and adolescence. While some behavioural issues may be normal, those who have behavioural disorders develop chronic patterns of aggression, defiance, open refusal to laws or regulations, disruption and hostility. Adolescents‘ behaviours can cause problems at home or school and can interfere with relationships. Adolescents with behavioural disorders may develop personality disorders, depression, or bipolar disorder as adults (RichardHarrington, 2008). 

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Adolescents with behavioural disorder not only affect themselves, their families and schools negatively but also the society at large. Increase in adolescents‘ behavioural disorder has led to a leap in chaos, disorderliness, destruction of lives and property, armed robbery, terrorist activities, kidnapping, oil bunkering, and many more evils. The Nigerian government established Remand Homes (now Secondary schools), Approved Schools and Juvenile Courts to address these behavioural disorders in adolescents but mere admission of the latter is not sufficient to reduce or eradicate the aggression. For adolescents with aggression to be helped, there is, therefore, the need to expose them to counselling interventions in order for them to become responsible individuals to themselves and their parents, good students at school and worthy ambassadors of the nation as a whole. Various behavioural modification techniques like cognitive restructuring, self management and token economy among others have been used to treat rebelliousness, disorderliness, depression, anxiety, gambling, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other disruptive behaviours (Lam, Cole, Sharpiro & Bambara, 1994; Kanter, Schildcrout, & Kohlenberg, 2005; Chronis, Gamble, Roberts & Pelham, 2006; Pull, 2007; Jime´nez-

Murcia, lvarez-Moya, Granero, Aymami, Go´mez-Pen˜ a, & Jaurrieta, 2007;  Aderanti & Hassan, 2011). 

Nevertheless, this study sets out to examine the Effects of cognitive behaviour and social learning therapies in the treatment of aggression (aggression, hostility, deceitfulness/theft and rule violation) among adolescents in two Secondary school. 

       1.3       Objectives of the Study

       1.3.1    General Objective

The study mainly sought to examine the Effects of cognitive behaviour and social learning therapies in the treatment of adolescent aggression. 

       1.3.2    Specific Objectives:

Specifically, the study sought to:

1.      compare the significant difference between participants in experimental groups (cognitive behaviour and social learning therapies) and control group. 

2.      compare the significant difference between participants exposed to cognitive behaviour and social learning therapies.

3.      investigate the impact of gender, parenting style and parental socio-economic status on  conduct disorder in adolescents. 

       1.4       Research Questions

In the light of the above, the following research questions were raised:

1.      Is there any difference in the degree of severity of aggression before and after treatment among participants?

2.      Will cognitive behaviour and social learning therapies be effective as treatment methods of aggression in adolescents?

3.      Will gender, parental socio-economic status and parenting style affect the effectiveness of cognitive behaviour and social learning therapies in the treatment of adolescent conduct disorder?

       1.5       Research Hypotheses

The research hypotheses stated in null form tested in this study were:

Hypothesis one: There is no significant difference in the treatment of aggression of the participants exposed to cognitive behaviour and social learning therapies when compared with participants in the control groups.

Hypothesis two: There is no significant difference in aggression of participants exposed to cognitive behaviour and social learning therapies.

       1.6       Significance of the Study

The knowledge and research on aggression can serve as a useful tool to clinicians, teachers, and the community in that it will enable them to understand the origin and spread of aggression in order to provide preventions, interventions and treatment programmes. This study will benefit practising and upcoming counselling professionals (counsellors) in the following ways:

For best practices, counsellors through this study will be more enlightened on the most effective intervention for treating aggression. For instance, if behavioural rehearsal is the most effective, it will assist counsellors to use the intervention on any of their clients exhibiting aggression. Professional counsellors, psychologists, parents and people in other related fields will also be enlightened on the likely factors that can cause aggression in human beings especially in adolescents and proffer solutions to combat behavioural disorder for the nation at large to have glorious future leaders. The findings from this study are expected to enable counsellors to help adolescents to build their self esteem, teach them new skills and healthy ways to behave.

       1.7        Scope of the Study

This study was limited to adolescents in two secondary schools in Lagos

State (Secondary school for Boys situated at Oregun and Special

Correctional Centre for Girls at Idi-Araba). The study covered male and female adolescents of different ages, educational levels and length of stay (duration) in the secondary schools. 

       1.8        Operational Definition of Terms

In this study, the following terms were operationally defined as follows: 

Adolescents: These are individuals that have reached the puberty stage but are not yet adults. The terms "adolescents," ―juvenile,‖ "youth," "young adults" and "young people" are used interchangeably.

Behavioural Disorder: This is an unruly or anti-social behaviour that does not align with the societal norm (examples are: aggression, oppositional defiant disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

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Good Conduct: Good behavioural pattern that conform to the societal norm. 

Inmates: These are individuals found in the Secondary schools. In order to avoid stigmatization, this term is no longer used for adolescents in Secondary schools.

Intervention: This is a deliberate measure or act of influencing another person‘s affair positively to prevent undesirable consequences. Interventions in this study are Cognitive behaviour and social learning therapies.

Parenting Styles: These are ways parent bring up or raise their children. It can also be referred to as child rearing style.

Socio-Economic Status: This is the child‘s parent‘s financial and social status. It is simply measured by the child‘s parent‘s occupation, standard of living, income and social class. 

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