ABSTRACT
Within educational settings, students who display problems with anger and aggression have become an increasing concern. Not only do these problems present challenges to safety and order, but they can also interfere with the educational process. Aggressors, their victims, and school personnel all stand to bear negative effects from displays of anger in the school setting. Children who display aggressive behavior, and those who are on the receiving end of aggressive acts, are both at risk for academic problems (e.g., Ma, Phelps, Lerner, & Lerner, 2009) and poor school attendance (e.g., Juvonen, Nishina, & Graham, 2000; Kokko, Tremblay, Lacourse, Nagin, & Vitaro, 2006). Further, even the learning of non-aggressive students may be compromised when they attend classrooms with high overall levels of aggression (Dodge & Pettit, 2003). For teachers, the challenges associated with managing students’ aggressive behavior can lead to increased levels of work-related stress and burnout (Kokkinos, 2007).
