Violence in our Youth


by Kim Jackowski, Kelly Pollard, Candice Crofts

What makes a young person act violently? Research has shown there is no one reason for violence and aggression in an individual. It is the result of a combination of many factors. Furthermore, the research indicates these factors lie in the individual, the family, and at the community levels. There appears to be a significant increase in violent crimes committed by our youth. In order to prevent more tragedy, people must understand where this aggression stems from and what can be done to prevent these acts.

 WHAT CAUSES VIOLENT TENDENCIES: BIOLOGY OR THE ENVIRONMENT?

Modern science now allows us to obtain pictures of the living brain at work. This gives us the ability to identify and isolate individual genes, as well as to study the roles of neurotransmitters and how they affect the personality. This has brought us to question: Are violent people born that way? Recent scientific advances has given psychology the means to research behaviors and their possible link to biology, leading some scientists to claim that there is something in the brain causing violent tendencies. Still, most research suggests that violent tendencies stem from a combination of many factors, including genetics.

WARNING SIGNS

By the time we are five years of age, we have learned to be kind and caring or aggressive.

Often times there are warning signs in children that can be seen long before any type of violent act may occur. Being aware of these might help all of us better identify children at risk for violence, and possibly intervene beforehand. The following is a brief list of some of the more common warning signs. Note that one or all of these signs do not mean that a child is headed for problems, rather they are some factors associated with an angry, aggressive child.


PossibleWarning Signs

Hyperactive & impulsive tendencies

Opposition to authority

Inability to cope with everyday issues and problems

Extreme irritability

Depression and abrupt mood changes

Bad temper 

Research has shown, children as young as preschoolers can show violent behavior. This behavior should always be taken seriously, regardless of the age of the child. This violent behavior can range from temper tantrums, fighting, use of weapons, cruelty towards animals, vandalism, and attempts to hurt other people.

Aggressive children often come from aggressive homes, but in addition, outside the family we learn more hostile ways of responding to frustration, such as in schools, on the play grounds, from friends, and especially from TV, movies and books.

THE IMPACT OF TELEVISION

The impact of TV has been studied extensively; it appears to makes us more aggressive. Evidence indicates that the more people are exposed to violent TV drama the more likely they are to be violent in their everyday lives. The amount of time and type of programs a child watches can have an affect on their aggression levels. Below are some related information found involving children and television.

A few findings:

 A Closer Look at the Factors Contributing to Violence

As we have learned through research, there are many factors contributing to violence and aggression. Contributers to violence are found in all areas of the individual's life including those stemming from biology, the family and the community. Violence may be the result of just one of these or a combination of several. Some of the factors cannot be preventable, whereas many of them can. This fact highlights the extreme importance of family and the community. The factors include:

 Biological Factors

 Family Factors

 Community Factors

Once we have a greater understanding about where violence comes from, we then can use our knowledge to determine the most preventable methods for ending it. We must do all we can to protect these youths from a life of crime, prison, and even death.

 Possible ways to lessen these violent behaviors include:  

 References