(image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jul. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — A team of medical experts led by Professor Kim Byung-nyun of Seoul National University Hospital has revealed that a psychological treatment program for violent students at 400 schools nationwide launched in 2014 has resulted in improved behaviors and emotions among teenage offenders.
The treatment program, which was initially conducted with the participation of 24 middle and high school students, targeted individuals with anger and impulse control disorders.
The program starts by correcting the sentiments that these violent individuals possess, such as “violence is an effective way of getting what I want,” “there is a rightful reason why the weak are beaten up,” and “I must attack others before they attack me.”
Students are trained to control their own impulses and aggressiveness while learning effective communication skills.
The research team performed the treatment program on 24 middle and high school students twice a week for a total duration of eight weeks.
Students underwent clinical and neuropsychic tests before and after the treatment programs. CT scans of the students’ brains were also taken to ascertain the effects of the program.
The results of such tests revealed that after the program, students showed substantial improvement in the four sectors of delinquency, aggressiveness, depression and impulsive behavior.
CT scans of the brain showed that the neural circuits of the frontal and parietal lobes were activated after students underwent the treatment program. The frontal lobe is known to control a person’s impulsion and aggression.
The parietal lobes take on the role of interpreting others’ expressions and emotions. When the function of one’s parietal lobes weakens, the patient interprets the emotions of others in a negative way.
The medical team revealed that as both areas in the brain were activated, it meant the students had become less aggressive and were able to understand the emotions of others better.
Prof. Kim said that the research showed that the program was able to control the aggressiveness of the students.
“The results will be applied further into the program,” Kim noted.
The results of the study were published in the recent edition of the academic journal, “Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry.”
H. S. Seo (hsseo@koreabizwire.com)
