Effect of educational intervention based on theory of planned behavior on aggression preventive behaviors in students
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-03-2022-0701 |
| Published date | 28 June 2022 |
| Date | 28 June 2022 |
| Pages | 152-162 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Aggression,conflict & peace,Sociology,Gender studies,Gender violence,Political sociology,policy & social change,Social conflicts,War/peace |
| Author | Ali Asghar Khaleghi,Saeedeh Jafarzadeh,Pooyan Afzali Harsini,Seyyed Hannan Kashfi,Fatemeh Mohammadkhah,Ali Khani Jeihooni |
Effect of educational intervention based on
theory of planned behavior on aggression
preventive behaviors in students
Ali Asghar Khaleghi, Saeedeh Jafarzadeh, Pooyan Afzali Harsini, Seyyed Hannan Kashfi,
Fatemeh Mohammadkhah and Ali Khani Jeihooni
Abstract
Purpose –Aggressive behaviors are common among students. Given the importance of education in
reducing aggressive behavior, this study aims to examine the influenceof a theory of planned behavior
(TPB)-basededucational intervention on aggression-preventive behaviors infifth-grade male students in
Fasa city,Iran.
Design/methodology/approach –A total of 120 male students were randomly picked from several
public schools in Fasa city, Iran, between 2018 and 2019. Assessments were completed before and
three months after the intervention.Intervention consisted of eight 55–60-mintraining sessions based on
the TPB’s processesand constructs.
Findings –Prior to the educational intervention, there was no significant difference between the two
groups in terms of attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intention to stop
aggressiveness or to engage in aggression-preventive activities. However, three months following the
intervention,the experimental group demonstrated a considerablerise in the aforementioned constructs
(p>0.001in all cases).
Originality/value –The study’s findings demonstrated the efficacy of a TPB-based educational
intervention on constructs of the TPB theory. Results suggest application of a TPB-based educational
interventioncan have a pro-social impact onthe attitudes and behavior of elementaryage boys.
Keywords Students, Prevention, Education, Behavior, Theoryof planned behavior (TPB), Aggression,
Schools, Prevention and control
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Emotion is a psychological, biological, intentional and social phenomenon. Anger and
aggression are two emotions that have a powerful and essential effect on everyone’s life.
Anger is one of the most frequently encountered emotional states in daily life. It is seen as
an upsetting inner state of emotion and is defined by its varying recurrence and severity.
Anger is frequently associated with erroneous arousal ideas and perceptions and is
manifested by an escalating urge for verbal or physical culturally inappropriate behaviors
(Deffenbacher, 2011;Lundholm, 2013). The term “aggression” is defined in social
psychology as any behavior intended to injure another individual who does not wish to be
harmed (Fiske et al.,2012). Aggression can be induced by underlying biological and
psychological characteristics such as gender and age, when they combine with external
causes such as cultural and social influences or environmental occurrences (Fares et al.,
2011). Recent studies indicate that around 250,000 killings occur each year between the
ages of 10 and 29 (World Health Organization,2014), and violence is viewed as a risk factor
for such crime (Hemati et al., 2012). Aggression is also a major risk factor for
(Informationabout the
authorscan be found at the
end of this article.)
Received 7 March 2022
Revised 20 April 2022
29 May 2022
29 May 2022
30 May 2022
Accepted 30 May 2022
Declaration of conflicting
interests: The authors declare
that there is no conflict of
interest.
PAGE 152 jJOURNAL OF AGGRESSION, CONFLICTAND PEACE RESEARCH jVOL. 15 NO. 2 2023, pp. 152-162, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1759-6599 DOI 10.1108/JACPR-03-2022-0701
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