Why do Children become Violent?

It is difficult to count the number of things that are unspeakably wrong and shameful about the tragic killing of Ruben Fernandes and Keenan Santos. Each one of them marks a sad milestone moment in our society’s downward spiral, and gives reason to reflect on the evolution of what is arguably one of India’s most energetic cities. 

There may be countless reasons to account for why people don’t step up in situations like this. Such as that “it’s too messy to get involved in police matters.” Or the ‘Bystander Effect’ that says the greater the number of bystanders, the less likely it is that any one of them will help – in the belief that “someone else will step up”.

Shed a silent tear for your fallen heroes, Mumbai. But also reflect on a part of us that died that day. When our Bravehearts – who stood up to lawlessness — are mowed down in public, it’s a bit of us that dies. When bystanders merely stand by watching young men die, and don’t step up to help, it’s our soul that has been crushed.

Violent behaviours are on a rise. What can we do? For a start do think about how children are showing violent streaks from a very young age. We often dismiss subtle signs in our own children or children around us thinking that it will all change once they grow up. Stop, Check and take immediate corrective steps if you find any of the following signs. You may be preventing a repeat of such an incidence in the near future. So please read seriously…

Why do Children become Violent?

Sometimes, children have temper tantrums. It’s a normal part of learning how to deal with emotions. What’s important is to differentiate between an occasional outburst and a consistent pattern of violence or aggression. Violence in children includes a range of behaviours, including threats, bullying, harm to animals, aggression toward others, explosive temper tantrums and armed assault.

If you recognize a pattern or outbursts are an ongoing problem, seek the help of a mental health professional. There are many possible causes for violence and aggression in children, and treatment is available.

Conduct Disorder

Conduct disorder is a blanket term for a number of behaviour issues that involve violence and aggression. Children who do not know how to behave in a socially acceptable manner, defy authority, lie and steal may have conduct disorder. Children with conduct disorder are often aggressive with people or animals. They can start fights, bully other children and intentionally destroy property. The disorder can be accompanied by other conditions, such as mood and learning disorders, anxiety and substance abuse.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Children who act aggressively toward parents or authority figures may have oppositional defiant disorder. While many children lose their tempers or argue with parents, children with the disorder take that to an extreme. They can argue violently with adults, refuse to follow rules, be angry and hostile. It isn't known exactly why children have this disorder, but the Mayo Clinic points out it is probably a number of factors working together, such as abuse, brain chemical imbalances, neglect or developmental delays.

Medical and Other Conditions

Studies have found that abnormalities in the amygdala, which is linked to the regulation of emotions, are present in the brains of aggressive children. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry states that genetics and inherited traits can influence violence in children. Certain medical, psychiatric and other conditions may heighten children's propensity toward violence. Factors that increase central nervous system arousal or lower inhibitions can increase the likelihood of violence. Foetal alcohol syndrome, Tourrette-Syndrome, seizure disorder and brain trauma can all contribute toward violent behaviour according to Web4Health.info. Psychiatric conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Asperger's syndrome, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder and conduct disorders also enhance the likelihood of violent and aggressive behaviour. Drug and alcohol abuse encourage violent acts, both through dis-inhibition and through peer pressure.

Exposure to Violence

A report on youth violence states that living in unsafe or violent neighbourhoods can cause aggressive behaviour in children. Being exposed to physical violence at home (with domestic abuse), at school or in the community also increases the risk of children becoming violent or aggressive.

Child Abuse

Children who are physically, mentally or sexually abused can become aggressive or violent, particularly if they do not receive treatment or help. Other family problems can also negatively affect a child, such as neglect and poverty.

Media

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry points out that violent behaviour in children is generally the result of a combination of risk factors. While that makes it difficult to point to one or all causes of violence, the academy lists exposure to violent media as a risk factor for childhood violence. Violent movies, television shows and video games are all thought to contribute to aggression in children.

Genetics and Environment

Stephen Scott, a child and adolescent psychologist writing in the "British Medical Journal," conducted a thorough review of the research on childhood conduct disorder. He found that children of antisocial parents are more likely to develop conduct disorder, even if they are raised in an adoptive home. This suggests a hereditary, or genetic, cause of youth violence. At the same time, the risk of developing conduct disorder is even higher among these children if they are raised in an unfavorable family situation, suggesting that environmental factors are also at work in causing violent behaviour in children.

Poor Parenting

Scott reports that various aspects of parenting may contribute to violent behaviour in children. He lists five parenting flaws in particular: poor supervision; erratic, harsh discipline; parental disharmony; rejection of the child; and limited involvement in the child's activities. Parents who exhibit this behaviour engage in a parent-child interaction pattern that inadvertently encourages and rewards aggressiveness in their children.

Social and Economic Factors

A variety of social and economic factors can create conditions that lead to violence among children and teens. These factors may include stressful family situations such as single parenting, the breakup of a marriage, parental unemployment, poverty and severe deprivation.

Violence Begets Violence

Acts of violence cover a wide range of behaviours, from bullying, pushing, hitting and slapping to fire setting, assault, robbery, rape and murder. In addition to whatever physical trauma they sustain, human victims of violence experience effects that can include low esteem, anger, anxiety, fear and trauma. These feelings can fuel later impulses to engage in retaliatory violence, or to displace anger into violence against other victims. Through social learning, victims learn how to engage in violence, which they later inflict on others. Further, being a victim of violence heightens the likelihood of a victim developing a tolerant attitude toward violence, and of developing a view that violence is an acceptable means of dealing with problems, according to the World Health Organization. Consequently children who are victims of violence have a greater likelihood of engaging in violent behaviour themselves, according to the World Health Organization.

Witness to Violence

Witnesses of violence often experience similar adverse effects as the direct victims, according to WHO, and like the victims, they are more likely to engage in violent behaviour. Whether they observe acts of violence directed against family members, see peers bullying others in the schoolyard or watch violence on TV or at the theatre, children who observe violent behaviour are more likely to commit acts of aggression, as noted by WHO and Global Citizen.