Effects of Nonviolent Communication Training Program on Elementary School Children

This study's experimental design is focused on the effectiveness of a nonviolent communication training program implemented among elementary school children. The entire training program was consisted of nine workshops, with each session lasting for two 45-minute lessons. The workshops were designed to address the defined 9 (nine) components of nonviolent communication: (1) perception, (2) feelings, (3) needs, (4) demands, (5) types of verbal abuse, (6) student response to aggression, (7) how to recognize emotions, (8) conflict resolution skills, and (9) types of conflict resolution. Data were collected for each workshop separately by means of self-report instruments (tests), which were designed to enable students’ report on the degree of acquisition of specific components of nonviolent communication. The results indicated that the training program contributed to an increased competence in nonviolent communication among 13- and 14-year old pupils. Furthermore, the results revealed that student response to aggression is the component of the most importance for the program. With teachers often employing a violent communication mode, the authors conclude that further researches, with school teachers in their focus, are particularly needed.