This study began with the recognition of problem that a psychological support would be necessary since children in a institution showed a more instability and depression in terms of emotion than ordinary children and showed the problematic propensity ...
This study began with the recognition of problem that a psychological support would be necessary since children in a institution showed a more instability and depression in terms of emotion than ordinary children and showed the problematic propensity of revealing a careless, aggressive, and violent behavior with their experience of environmental injury and special condition in the institution.
In this regard, this study tried to verify the effect of role-playing on the depression, aggression, and attention deficit behavior of institutionalized children.
For the purpose of this, the author selected 6 children in ○○ children's home of C city as an experiment group and implemented the role-playing program for 21 sessions. To verify the effect of a role-playing and its durability, the author selected 6 children having the similar level of depression, aggression, and attention deficit behavior to the experiment group as a control group and implemented the pre-test, the first post-test, and the second post-test 3 months after the closing. Through interviews with teachers in charge each session, the author examined the individual change of children. In addition, the author analyzed the quantitative change in depression, aggression, and attention deficit behavior of children who participated in the role-playing program as well as the behavioral change in the process of role-playing and the qualitative change in picture test and thus studied the effect on individual change of the role-playing.
Through this research, the following result was drawn.
First, it was found out that the role-playing statistically had a significant effect on decrease in depression of institutionalized children. Namely, the depression marks of experiment group statistically showed a significant reduction in comparison to the control group. Such result can be interpreted as the fact that the role-playing helped the group members easily express themselves, enhance their values, and have a positive mind.
Second, it was found out that the role-playing statistically had a significant effect on reduction in aggression of institutionalized children. In other words, the marks of aggression of experiment group statistically showed a significant reduction in comparison to the control group. In terms of this result, children seem to have experienced the communication skill, sympathy to understand other's feeling, understanding on rules and cooperative spirit, etc. through the role-playing.
Third, it was found out that the role-playing statistically had a significant effect on decrease in attention deficit behavior of institutionalized children. Namely, the attention deficit behavior marks of experiment group statistically showed a significant reduction in comparison to the control group. Such result can be interpreted as the fact that the role-playing enhanced the self-control ability of the group members and helped them maintain a relationship in a more positive manner.
Fourth, as a result of reviewing the change in picture test (HTP, KSD) per child in individual case after implementing the role-playing to institutionalized children, the first post-test showed a more stable and positive expression than the picture in the pre-test. However, although the second post-test was stable in comparison to the pre-test, it gradually showed depression, aggression, and attention deficit behavior in comparison to the first post-test so that it was limited in terms of durability in the effect of role-playing.
Fifth, in case of examining the change in dynamic nature of a group occurring in the process of role-playing, they felt difficult in role-playing in an early stage and found trouble in expressing their role into a language and behavior. And they made a lot of negative feedback to the group members. However, as children came to have a emotional stability in a group through a warming up and a double ego technique in role-playing, the expression on a role came out gradually and the words or behaviors to consider others came out through a role reversal technique. At the closing stage, they came to experience the process of mutual discussion and compromise with a natural role allocation and showed the behavior in a confident attitude in such a process.
In consideration of such research result, the role-playing not only decreased depression, aggression, and attention deficit behavior of institutionalized children but also had an effect on overall behavioral change of individual child. In conclusion, it was found out that the role-playing program was effective in depression, aggression, and attention deficit behavior of institutionalized children. And it will be utilized as the means to prevent and cure the problem of institutionalized children.