The Unbridled Mind

                                              Photo from The Irish News, 13 April, 2018.

Violence and violent acts seem to be coming from children of earlier ages.  Childhood neglect and exposure to violence is training up a new generation of kids that have less respect for authority and human life.  In this country, according to a study by Paula Smith, PhD, developmental psychologist at the University of Utah, et al., published in the Maternal and Child Health Journal in 2001, violent experiences are becoming a more routine part of childhood development, but mainly in lower-income African-American children.  As more incidences are released in the media in the United States of child violence, there is a growing number of instances worldwide.  The World Health Organization says that 43 percent of homicides are committed within the ages of 10 to age 29.  Who, then, is to blame when children commit acts of violence?  Is it the parents, or their surroundings, or both?

 The WHO states that some risk factors for violent acts among youth include poor parental supervision, too strict, inconsistent or lax discipline, family members in gangs or that abuse drugs, and low income.  The American Psychological Association, in a research study, shows that violent video games and television has been blamed for the increase of violent behavior, but studies have not proven a link between these and violent criminal acts.  They have, however, shown a link between exposure to violence through media and aggressive behavior.  Defined in an article by Jianghong Liu, PhD., et al., aggressive behavior is a broad description of physical, verbal, psychological, and other ways of causing harm.  It goes on to say that violence is only one form of aggressive behavior.  In Northern Ireland, a charity organization supporting parents, Parenting NI, says that there has been an increase in parents calling for help in dealing with aggressive or violent kids.  Shirley Miller of Parenting NI, says, "the problem is the problem - not the child."  Miller also comments that parents give in to their children to avoid conflict and fear of hurting their child out of anger.  In addition to this, Penn State sociologists say that parents who neglect their children, can increase the odds of raising violent adolescents.

The different ways in which children can be influenced to commit violent acts seem to stem from one main cause: the parents, or the lack thereof.  While there are no perfect parents or guide book on how to deal with every issue that comes up involving children, the responsibility is theirs for raising them.  There are many children who were brought up in broken, abusive, or neglectful homes and because of one parent or other family member, they came out of it and excelled.  There are a few, also, that raised themselves and became successful individuals, but they shouldn't have to.  Parenting is a great responsibility and it is not really understood, to what extent, beforehand.  Continuing education is not only helpful for the child, but the parent as well.