A Comparative Investigation of the Effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Group Practices and Psychodrama on Adolescent Aggression

The aim of this research is to investigate whether cognitive-behavioral group practices and psychodrama decrease adolescent aggression. This is a quasi-experimental, pre-post and follow up study with two experiments and one control group. The Aggression Scale (Buss & Warren, 2000) adapted to Turkish by Can (2002) was administered as a pretest to 9th grade students of Nezihe Yalvac Anatolian Hotel and Tourism Vocational High School in Adana. After the administration and assessment of the scale, 36 students who had the highest aggression levels were selected and were randomly divided into three groups. The experimental and control groups each included 12 students. Cognitive behavioral techniques were applied to the first experimental group in 10 sessions, psychodrama techniques were applied to the second experimental group in 14 sessions. No application has been done to the control group. After the groups ended, the Aggression Scale was re-administered to all groups as a post test. 16 weeks after ending the groups, the scale was administered one mor time to the experimental groups as a follow up test. Findings were analyzed with ANCOVA and t test for dependent samples. Findings have showed that cognitive-behavioral approach was effective in decreasing aggression scores, except verbal aggression and psychodrama approach was effective in decreasing all aggression scores except verbal physical aggression. ANCOVA analyses showed that cognitive-behavioral approach was more effective in decreasing total aggression, physical aggression, and anger than psychodrama. Follow up test results showed that the effects of group practices on both experimental groups were lasting even 16 weeks later.