Anti-Social Behavior

– Group Conflicts Essay, Research Paper

Anti-Social BehaviorA Discussion and Analysis of Group Conflicts For purposes of this research paper, it is the intent of this author to present and assess the relationship of deciding not to work within a group format, group conflicts with membership and anti-social behavior. To this extent, this author should like to address a greater understanding of anti-social behavior, group conflicts, and the pros and cons of same. It is the belief of this author that there exists an important social relationship between anti-social behavior and group functioning. “Shut up you S.O.B.” and “You can kiss my —,” are just a few of the explicatives that researchers were dealing with on a recent study on how to reduce inappropriate behavior in verbally aggressive, elderly subjects. The researchers succeeded in mitigating the aggressive outbursts of six older people who were diagnosed schizophrenics and institutionalized. Their aggressive behavior was monitored in a group setting on the ward, and in a socialization hour before and after two three-week training sessions and again five months later. The group training sessions included descriptions by the experimenters about the importance of proper verbal behavior, role-playing between the experimenters and two psychology interns, and then role-playing by the subjects imitating the scenarios they had just seen. They were offered social incentives for continued non-aggressive behavior, instead of material incentives such as cookies and a soda. A well behaved subject would be rewarded by participation in a socialization hour or special recreational outings based on his or her interests. Researchers found that, after having been taught appropriate social skills and then given adequate incentive to use them, the incidence of verbal aggression gradually decreased and stayed consistently low during the five-month follow-up period (Brown University, 1992). Indeed, much research has been done on social and anti-social behavior. As indicated, research has identified distinct relationships between social and anti-social behavior as well as the influence of same within a group setting. Similarly, the pre-identified scenario underscores group conflicts as well as their potential resolution. In the aforementioned scenario, the research was the result of in-house research which is to be contrasted to out-patient group therapy. It is the view of this author that anti-social behavior and group conflicts may manifest themselves with some individuals who exhibit anti-social behavior and others who do not. This is to say that there are individuals who exhibit anti-social behavior and are treatable through a group-style format, and others who are not. It is the intent of this author to attempt to illuminate this topic, largely through research and case studies which this author believes will be purposeful. Fortunately, there is no paucity of case studies as well as varied demographic or sample groups. The elderly is one group who is cited in the aforementioned study, and they make for a particularly useful group in that, in our society, the elderly represent prime candidates for anti-social behavior because of their age. Similarly, many are institutionalized, and group formats are particularly pervasive amongst this group. This is, to a similar extent, true amongst low-income families for specific socio-demographic reasons. An example of this would have to do with a low-income family who is brought together with other low-income families due to a common need. Often, this need is defined in terms of basic food, shelter and clothing. Increasing numbers of families are unable to obtain enough food throughout the month, and many go hungry during the last week of each month. The groups at greatest risk for food shortages are the elderly, children, and single-parents families. Even people participating in government program run out of food at times. Low-income families were evaluated to determine if the number of food servings consumed by family members each week was associated with food shortages or participation in food assistance programs. Home interviews were conducted with 109 families that were members of 6 food cooperatives for low-income people. 48 other low-income families who were not using the food cooperatives were also included. Several factors associated with more family food servings per week were identified. These were household size, number of sources of income, and participation in WIC (a supplemental program for women, infants and children). Families that experienced the most serious food shortages at the end of the month were those with the youngest children (Taren, et al., 1992). This study underscores the dire trauma of some people who may exhibit anti-social behavior, and there are little to no answers or resolutions to treating these groups. Even with the nagging need of food and shelter, there are individuals who would prefer to go without than participate in group activity. As indicated by the study, many individuals would not avail themselves to food cooperatives. In fact, one group of 48 families who refused to participate in the food cooperatives were, by contrast, younger. It may be construed that there exists a correlation between the usefulness of a group approach to anti-social behavior and age. In the aforementioned study, it was indicated that, while there are individuals who come together as groups (and