Effectiveness of the Vienna Social Competence Training on Explicit and Implicit Aggression

A three-wave longitudinal study investigated the effects of the Vienna Social Competence Training (ViSC), a 13-week school class-based social competence training for adolescents, on explicit and implicit aggressiveness. Explicit aggressiveness was assessed via self-reported behavior in conflict situations; implicit aggressiveness was assessed via an Implicit Association Test (IAT). Furthermore, observer ratings regarding aggressive behavior were obtained from teachers and classmates. The ViSC was implemented in seven school classes; four classes served as controls. Data were taken prior to the training, directly after the training, and 4 months after the training was finished. Between pre- and posttest, no differences between training and control classes were found, whereas between posttest and follow-up an increase in aggressiveness was observed among control, but not among training classes. The psychometric properties of the Aggressiveness-IAT for evaluating training effects are discussed.