Every day people read the news concerning the growth of children’s violence. Therefore, there is tremendous worldwide concern about incidents of violent youth behaviors that create an acute issue that needs to be handled by adults. There is a wide range of ruthless demeanors, including threats, bullying, acts of aggression towards peers or animals, or even armed assault. Typically, children demonstrating such behavioral patterns are diagnosed with conduct disorder. Meanwhile, their parents believe that acts of violence at a young age are the repercussions of a transitional period, which will eventually pass. The parents merely do not understand what consequences childhood violence can lead to. The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors affecting the emergence of youth violence.
Recently, childhood violence has turned into a common phenomenon that causes serious consequences affecting their well-being and harming others. Psychologists established several reasons that lead to the emergence of aggressive behaviors. First and foremost, the findings show that domestic violence is the chief cause of youth aggression (Witmer, 2019). Children living with parents, who mistreat them or demonstrate the patterns of maltreatment towards each other, expose kids to learning these ways of conduct. Such factors as neglect, rejection, or cruel parenting style significantly contribute to children’s behavior in a destroying manner (Blair et al., 2015). There is an effect of intergenerational violence which is transmitted by a mother and father to their offspring. Often, these behavioral models, where parents show violence, are passed onto a child who believes it endows them with power and control.
Another aspect relates to the lack of parental supervision. The researchers established that adolescents who are devoid of parental control are more likely to engage in a criminal or violent activity (Witmer, 2019). The kids lacking adequate adult supervision are exposed to making wrong choices and recognizing the repercussions of aggressive acts (Blair et al., 2015). Such youths may make friends with potentially dangerous people or try things their parents would not approve of (Morrison, 2015). What is more, permissive parents reduce their kids’ motivation to care about the future and ruin their discipline. Therefore, an active parental role in bringing up a kid is crucial in avoiding unnecessary risks.
The other aspect influencing a child’s involvement in violent deeds comes from the outer environment. According to Witmer (2019), peers are likely to expose one to acting ferociously due to their interest in risky affairs, especially in a group. Therefore, under peer pressure, children start acting not out of their own device, but due to the group empowerment (Witmer, 2019). Moreover, the neighborhoods and communities where children dwell impose behavioral patterns of violence due to some areas’areas’ diminished economic opportunities or high level of crime. As a result, the child joins local gangs as violence becomes a kind of protection or bringing an order.
Media influence is another factor that contributes to the mass development and promotion of youth aggression. With the emergence of video games, social platforms, and other Internet resources, the level of violence has considerably increased. Although the direct impact of media is hard to determine, the researchers established that video games are the chief cause of violent demeanor. Apart from that, such games, shooters or actions, in particular, arouse angry thoughts and provoke the rise of blood pressure, which affects both physical and mental well-being of one. In addition to this, videogames include exchanging disturbing thoughts and feelings among other aggressive children, thus receiving a sort of approval among those players.
Traumatic events are the next reason for adolescent aggression. Such activities commonly occur when one experiences a loss of a close friend or a relative and blames oneself. Therefore, the outburst of violence is normal because anger is a crucial stage of grieving. However, “while anger is a normal emotion, it is not normal to be violent toward another person” (Witmer, 2019, para. 20). The statement implies the consequences of a traumatic event that lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the chief trait of which is a manifestation of violence. This disorder needs counseling intervention to prevent any risks.
Mental illnesses also refer to the list of reasons that instigate kids’ violence. In fact, not many parents realize their children have psychological issues or merely ignore them. Meanwhile, such disorders as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct or bipolar disorders include aggressive inclinations as primary symptoms (Witmer, 2019). Thus, prior to judging a child’s s deviant behavior, it is necessary to evaluate the mental health of one.
To sum everything up, it seems reasonable to state that majority of reasons impacting the emergence of children violence are external as they suggest interacting with other people in real life or via the Internet. Among the inner aspects, traumatic events and mental illnesses are prevalent as they cause internal pain that reflects in the form of cruel behavior. Thus, considering each factor as a threat that increases youth aggression, the adults must take measures for reducing the spread of such conduct.
References
Blair, F., McFarlane, J., Nava, A., Gilroy, H., & Maddoux, J. (2015). Child witness to domestic abuse: baseline data analysis for a seven-year prospective study. Pediatric Nursing, 41(1), pp. 23–29
Morrison, F. (2015). All over now? The ongoing relational consequences of domestic abuse through children’s contact arrangements. Child Abuse Review, 24, pp. 274–284
Witmer, D. (2019). Causes of youth violence. VeryWellFamily. Web.