Parenting Resources - Teen Violence: Abuse

Some Kids Resilient; Some Kids At Risk

Are some children just prone to violence?

There is no gene for violence. Violence is a learned behavior, and it is often learned in the home or the community from parents, family members, or friends. Children are more aggressive and grow up more likely to become involved in violence - either as a victimizer or as a victim--if they witness violent acts.

The home is the most fertile breeding place for this situation. A major example: A child who sees a parent or other family member abused is more likely to see violence as a way to solve problems and subsequently be more likely to abuse others.

However, studies do suggest there is a connection between violent behavior and some inherited traits. Research has shown that impulsivity, learning difficulties, low IQ, or fearlessness can make someone prone to violence.

Additionally, rates of violence vary in all groups, but are highest among males.

What do we know about preventing violence in children who seem most vulnerable?

Psychological research has not only demonstrated that violence is learned. It has also identified the factors that put children at the greatest risk of perpetrating or being victimized by violence, along with the prevention and intervention programs that work.

Aggression is often learned at an early age. In fact, according to Reason to Hope, the 1994 report by the APA Commission on Violence and Youth, it is possible to predict from an eight-year-old’s aggressive behavior in school how aggressive that child will be in adolescence and adulthood--including whether he or she will exhibit criminal and antisocial behavior. This is why prevention programs that start early in childhood and continue throughout adolescence have the best chance for success.

(Ideally, the prevention program should even begin before birth; proper pre- and postnatal care can reduce the risk of birth defects that could cause learning difficulties, one reason a child may be susceptible to violent behavior.)

The prevention plan must encompass myriad components of the child’s environment, including family members, teachers, peer groups, and media.

Effective violence prevention and intervention programs also share three primary characteristics:

The programs zero in on developmental and sociocultural risk factors that often lead to violence.
The programs use theory-based intervention strategies with proven track records.

(These measures are generally less costly and far more effective than building more jails.)

The programs sustain their preventive approach over time.

There are methods that can achieve enduring effects:

The High/Scope Perry Preschool Program, designed to help 3-4 year-olds at risk for failing school, included a 2-year classroom program and weekly teacher home visits. At age 19, fewer youth who had participated in the program had come to the attention of juvenile authorities or had been arrested. Participants also showed greater literacy, higher employment levels, and greater attendance at college or vocational school.

Providing young parents help in dealing with stress has shown promise in preventing later aggressive and antisocial behaviors by their children. In one study, the children of a group of parents who received help for 2 1/2 years--including assistance with finances and housing expenses, day care, and pediatric exams for their kids--attended school more, required fewer special services, and were rated more positively by their teachers. The children of the parent group that didn’t receive assistance were more likely to stay out all night without their mother’s knowledge., were cruel to animals, and exhibited aggressive behavior toward their siblings and parents.

Some children demonstrate a resiliency, almost from birth, that protects them from becoming violent or that makes them less vulnerable to the effects of violence. Psychological research suggests that resilience can also come from early experiences that counter the negative effects of violence. These experiences include:

- Positive role models; exposure to a greater number of positive than negative behaviors.
- Development of self-esteem and self-efficacy.
- Supportive relationships, including those with teachers and friends.
- Sense of hope about the future.
- Belief in oneself.
- Strong social skills.
- Good peer relationships.
- A close, trusting bond with a nurturing adult outside the family.
- Great empathy and support from the mother or mother figure.
- The ability to find refuge and a sense of self-esteem in hobbies and creative pursuits, useful work, and assigned chores.
- The sense that one is in control of one’s life and can cope with whatever happens.

What keeps some children who have been raised in violent circumstances themselves from becoming violent?