Conduct disorders constitute a heavy burden not only on those inflicted with the disorder, but on their families, schools and society at large. Violence within certain schools in South Africa has caused temporary closures and created a sense of panic for the staff and student body alike. This behaviour is normal and developmentally appropriate. But there are other children, even at this early age, who either intimidate or are violent towards other children, ignore disciplinary measures, do not listen to teachers and parents and are destructive of property. Both teachers and parents find it highly stressful to cope with these children and often resort to coe rcive forms of discipline.
Disruptive children are forever in trouble and so believe that they are bad and unloveable.
This then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The intervention takes the form of structured groups which run for eight weeks. Separate groups are held concurrently for parents, teachers and children. Besides the major objective of reducing aggressive behaviour in the children, the project aims to increase the competency of the parents and teachers to set effective and non-punitive limits and to increase their understanding of and empathy for the children. The teacher and parent groups are psycho-educational as well as supportive.