Assessment on Newsweek Claims on increase in violent behavior of girls - Essay Example

In 2003, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reports 378,895 instances of arrests in female groups under the age of 18 (fbi.gov, 275). The majority of these crimes included property crimes, larceny and various assaults (fbi.gov). With theft or damage to another’s property topping the list of crime varieties for this group, it might suggest that there is a trend toward materialism, essentially wanting more than their financial means can provide them, therefore they lash out at others who have more than they do.

Even though this is not described as a probable cause in the article, the arrest rates for these types of crimes show a trend in theft and property damage that cannot be ignored. This could be caused by the high level of merchandise availability in retail stores versus their own socio-economic status, leading to aggressive behavior in an attempt to procure a better lifestyle through theft. “Children who are exposed to violence undergo lasting physical, mental, and emotional harm. They suffer from problems with attachment, anxiety, or depression” (ncjrs.gov, 1). Violence exposure can occur within the household, in the school environment, or virtually any other location where the child is present and violence continues to occur.

These negative emotional outcomes, such as problems with social attachment, cause further problems such as dating violence, delinquency or ongoing victimization of others (ncjrs.gov). Viewing images of violence in every lifestyle shows a strong linkage between emotional stability and the child’s ability to rationalize their own aggressive behaviors. There is a theory in childhood development that suggests many children model the same behaviors they witness others displaying, especially if they see these behaviors being rewarded.

In an environment where a parent continuously expresses violence toward others and the female child witnesses other adult peers applauding these behaviors, the