Is Violence Hereditary or Genetic - Research Paper Example

? Is aggression hereditary or genetic? Task: Table of Contents Introduction ……………………………………………………………5 2. Review of Literature …………………………………………………....6 3. Methodology ……………………………………………………...........11 4. Data Analysis……………………………………………………………12 5. References....……………………………………………………………..14 6. Appendix ……...….………………………………………………………15. Problem statement There is a high likelihood that childhood aggression and antisocial behavior in adolescent stages of development have less relationship with the genetics of the parents than it can be a hereditary characteristic. Purpose of study The research investigates the correlation that exists between childhood aggression and the prevalence of antisocial behavior during the adolescence stage. The study’s core purpose was to prove whether aggression (including childhood aggression and adolescent antisocial behavior) is hereditary or emanates from genetics of the child’s parents. Identification of framework This study is helpful in explaining the relationship between aggression, including childhood aggression and antisocial behavior among adolescents, and the parents’ genetic makeup. It also helps to prove if violence, childhood aggression and antisocial among adolescents, is hereditary. Information of designed The research determines the extent to which violence (dependent variables), in the form of childhood aggression and antisocial behavior among adolescents, depends on genetic traits of parents (independent variable). Is violence hereditary or genetic? Abstract There are exceptional advantages of undertaking research in every field of knowledge. Nursing is a fundamental field in everyday lives, a need that underscores the necessity of undertaking research to boost the provision of nursing services. Possible research topics in the field of include the exploration of the principalities behind the prevalence of violence in the society. The question as to whether violence is hereditary or genetic forms a viable area of research in nursing. Childhood violence and subsequent observations as antisocial behavior among adolescents is on as escalating trend, in the society. A number of literatures are available on this field of nursing, as discussed in this research. This study investigates the source of violence, whether hereditary or related to the genetics of the parents. There are various depictions of violence as childhood aggression and antisocial behavior among adolescents. According to the research, violence is a hereditary trait. Introduction A theory refers to an abstract of a possible description of the functionalities of a principle stated in a logical way. Studies conducted to validate such abstract explanations refer to a research. Research, in the field of nursing, explores a number of areas. It is useful in exploring principles regarding the state of children, as well. Nursing involves the provision of comprehensive care to individuals. The care extends to that provided to members of the community and entails a vital role in nursing. Children face a number of risks and their protection forms a noble role in the field of nursing. Inhumane treatments are among the different challenges children face in the society. In as much as children continue to face a number of challenges, childhood aggression and a consequential prevalence of antisocial behavior in adolescents, is on an escalating trend in society, a factor that draws concern from a number of researchers, in the field of nursing. Studies show factors that link childhood aggression to antisocial conducts upon attaining adolescence stage. The research investigates the correlation that exists between childhood aggression and the prevalence of antisocial behavior during the adolescence stage. The research determines the extent to which violence (dependent variables), in the form of childhood aggression and antisocial behavior among adolescents, depends on genetic traits of parents (independent variable). There is a high likelihood that childhood aggression and antisocial behavior in adolescent stages of development have less relationship with the genetics of the parents than it can be a hereditary characteristic. The study’s core purpose was to prove whether aggression (including childhood aggression and adolescent antisocial behavior) is hereditary or emanates from genetics of the child’s parents. This study is helpful in explaining the relationship between aggression, including childhood aggression and antisocial behavior among adolescents, and the parents’ genetic makeup. It also helps to prove if violence, childhood aggression and antisocial among adolescents, is hereditary. Review of literature A research conducted by Narusyte et al aimed at finding the factors that contribute to the unmatched interaction between parents and children and the precedence of antisocial behavior among adolescents. These include genetic as well as environmental factors. Narusyte et al note that the relationship between parents and children is a principal determinant of negative the adoption of antisocial behavior among children. Children adopt negative behaviors from their parents. The influence of parents’ behavior is a potent determinant of conduct that children adopt (Narusyte et al, 2007). Parents’ conduct, therefore, shape that of children, a like. Lack of certain behavior among parents may also trigger the lack of such people. Parents behaviors, as well, can be as a form of reaction to their children’s’ conduct. Parent-child relationship develops through a number of correlations. Passive correlation between parents and children emanates from the genetic relationship that children and parents share. Active correlation occurs where the environment created correlate with the environment. The evocative gene-environment, according to Narusyte et al, emanates from the influence of parents on the characteristics of the child. In this case, wrong behavior in the child is a product of parents’ response to it. With the persistence of such behavior, adjustments may not be possible. Childhood aggression is among the negative behaviors that children may adopt during their childhood stages of development. It is one of the inheritable traits triggered by flaws in parenting (Narusyte et al, 2007). The trait is an easily detectable character at the early stages of a child’s development. Childhood aggression is among the characters that are traceable along family lines besides being initiated by wrong parenting practices. It is traceable because of the effects of genetic relationship between family members. According to findings from the research, genetic effects depict the influence on the interaction between parents and children and antisocial behavior, childhood behavior being among them. It is noteworthy that environmental factors make insignificant contribution towards a good parent-child relationship. An in-depth analysis displayed a relationship between the promoters of antisocial behavior in the early childhood and at the adolescent stage of life. The causes of poor parenting and adoption of antisocial behavior are traceable to a prior expression of childhood aggression. The situation best fits the provisions of the evocative gene-environment correlation. According to Narusyte et al, children who display childhood aggression adopt such behaviors in adolescent stage because of the remarks that they get from their parents. Children exposed to genetic risks of antisocial conducts get to continue with such behaviors to their adolescent stage. This also relates to poor parenting techniques that expose young children to antisocial behavior including childhood aggression. A research conducted by Pettit focused on the major triggers of youth aggression. I also investigated the contributory factors that trigger the development of youth aggression behavior. Inconsistent parenting is among the key reasons highlighted as the major cause of the development of aggression among youths, in the society. It, supposedly, is one of the factors that trigger early exposure that youth children have, concerning antisocial groups. Pettit notes the high interest in finding out the causes and contributory factors regarding aggression among minors in the society. Questions raised, trough the research, include the possibility of identifying and preventing the development of antisocial behavior among minors at an early stage of development. It is noteworthy that several factors can nurture a child to adopt violent means through to the adolescent stage of development. Pettit notes the considerable contribution of factors as emotional and cognitive processes. Pettit further highlight the contribution of genetic factors in the acquisition of antisocial behavior among children and a consequential development of wrong behaviors in their adolescent stage of life. Criminality and violent conduct among young people, therefore, is traceable in their lineage and family genetics. On a further note, the contribution of genetics proceeds to frame the environment in which antisocial behavior in children develops and thrive to adolescent stage. A child with a predisposition of the genetic influence has high susceptibility to having experiences of attaining violent behaviors on attaining adolescence stage in human development. The susceptibility further increases with the influence of external environmental factors that has high risks (Pettit, 2004). Pettit highlights factors promoting and supports antisocial behavior among minors in the society. There exists little clarity between the factors that trigger and those that promote antisocial behaviors in the environment. That is, factors that promote the initial occurrence of antisocial behavior in the environment and those that support its existence in the society. Social experiences, in life, are among the notable factors that trigger antisocial behavior among minors in the society. The role played by social experiences in the development of knowledge on life themes is significant in initiating and promoting antisocial behavior among children in the society. Since there are differences in children’s patterns of interpretation of information, children may develop different antisocial behaviors including childhood aggression when they interact with the environment. According to Pettit (2004), many theories underscore the fact that learning, through social experiences, creates a vital link the present and future behaviors. The knowledge gained from social experiences fine-tunes the knowledge and behavior of children. These include the emergence and existence of antisocial behavior as childhood aggression. Past social encounters are possible factors that can initiate antisocial behavior among children. Further evidence depict that some antisocial behavior among children are identifiable at the early age of development. The research further outlines a relationship between such early conducts on the future life of such children, especially at the adolescent stage. A research by Wilson, Stover and Berkowitz underscores the notion that the relationship between childhood aggression and other antisocial behavior experienced during the adolescent stage of development remains a vast area for conducting research. They note the concern over a high number of children who experience aggression in daily situations. The research aimed at finding out the relationship between childhood aggression and the antisocial behavior during the adolescent stage of life. They note the lack of adequate research to prove the relationship between childhood aggression and antisocial behaviors experienced during the adolescent stage of life (Wilson, Stover & Berkowitz, 2009). Pagani et al note that parenting is a core responsibility of parents working in unison and cooperation (Pagani et al, 2009). Parent and children get to aggressive incidents that notably emanate from conflicts over a number of considerations. These include home responsibilities and concerns over money and other things. Although mothers and fathers play equally critical roles in instilling discipline, the extent of their contribution varies. Mothers have a range of time to execute their duties in comparison to fathers. Fathers, therefore, execute less authority compared to mother, courtesy of the limited time they have with their children. Pegani et al note the increasing number of adolescents who display extents of hostility towards parents’ correctional efforts. The research by Pagani et al aimed at exploring possible risk factors that may emanate from the hostility (physical and verbal) that 15 to 16- year old sons and daughters given the correctional efforts by parents. According to the findings of the research, there were more boys than girls, who displayed resistance against their parents. The percentage of the number of boys and girls were 12.3% and 9.5%, respectively. However, there was little difference in sex as pertains to the expression of aggression towards correctional efforts towards boys and girls. The level of susceptibility increased with accompanying violent behaviors. Definitions Childhood Aggression Childhood aggression, in the research, is a measure of traits identified in children between the ages of thirteen to fourteen. The extent of irritability of the child when provoked formed a subscale determinant of the level of aggression in the child. It was a measure of feelings as the desire to fight back, use of words that depict irritation, gestures and postures that depict unhappiness and the desire to create troubling situations. The assessment of childhood behavior was on a scale in form a checklist analyzing the various observations on that parents had when children got triggered, annoyed or irritated. The checklist featured behaviors that portray aggression as mood changes, stubbornness and call for attention. To minimize any form of bias that may emanate from the reporters, the research included a list of reactions that child displays upon aggression. Antisocial behavior Antisocial behavior, in the research, includes such conducts condemned, ethically, in the society. They mainly occur among adolescents between the ages of sixteen and seventeen. They include such conducts as vandalism, drug and substance misuse and engagement in criminal cases as aggression and rape. Parent-child relationship Parent-child relationship, in the research, refers to the extent of hostility or warmth that may exist between the child and the parent. A negative parent-child, in the study, entails criticism and overreactions in emotional involvement. The relationship is measurable through expressed emotion that exists between the child and parent during such situations that emanate from incidences of child aggression. The reactions or criticism of parents is the rationale for the measurement of the extent of a parents’ feeling in case of any conflict. These include behaviors as efforts to transform the conduct of the child. Methodology A quantitative research, in nursing, launches a study to prove or reject a theory, with a predicted outcome prior to the research conducted. This is a quantitative research aimed at proving whether aggression, including childhood aggression and adolescent antisocial behavior, is hereditary or is a product of genetic inheritance. The research aims at explaining the connectedness between aggression and the genetic characteristics of the parent. It helps find an answer to the questions as to whether aggression among minors and antisocial behavior prevalent among teenagers are hereditary. The research was conducted using questionnaires used to conduct interviews to fifty parents and educators (respondents) representing twenty-five children and twenty-five adolescents. The representation of gender in the research process was 50% men and 50% women respondents. There were questionnaire (attached) filled by the respondents during the research. The questionnaire consisted of short answer questions of different forms. The identities of the participants remain confidential for purposes of security. Their projection is an assurance in the process of conducting research. The questionnaire used was an original creation of the research officers and a credible source of information. The reliability of the instrument used remains a guaranteed in the research process since the data collected was from first hand information. The data collection was conducted through tallying of the responses provided by the respondents. Data analysis Results and Discussion From the interview conducted thirty-five out of fifty respondents strongly agreed that childhood aggression was detectable at an early stage of the child’s development. Forty respondents responded to observe childhood aggression for an approximate period of between seven to nine hours per week. Thirty out of the fifty respondents mentioned negative signs of irritation among children under aggression. These included signs that show possibilities of outbursts and violent reactions towards the subject, situation or offender. Thirty out of the fifty respondents agreed that there is a relationship between childhood aggression and antisocial behavior experienced among adolescents in the society. Thirty-three out of fifty respondents consented to the fact that there exists a relationship between child aggression and the character of the parent. There was a further consent by thirty-five respondents that there exists a relationship between antisocial behavior among adolescents and the character of the parents. Twenty-nine respondents agreed that child aggression and antisocial behavior among adolescents are hereditary while only ten responded positively to that it is genetic. From the results seventy percent of the respondents strongly agreed that childhood aggression was identifiable from a young age and early development. Significant number of respondents showed that minors show aggression for a considerable half a day, in a week. This shows the high instance that children show aggression in daily life. From the results, it is evident that children who show aggression at their young age are most likely to adopt antisocial behavior in their adolescent stage of development. From the results, it is evident that there exists a relationship between childhood aggression and antisocial behavior at the adolescent stage of life. There was a broad consensus by the respondents that there exists a relationship between childhood aggression and antisocial behavior among adolescents to the character of the parent. From the results, it is evident that child aggression and antisocial behavior are hereditary. Since child aggression and antisocial behavior among adolescents are synonymous to violence, for purposes of this research, violence is hereditary. Conclusion The influence of parents in the society is immense including the promotion of moral character among children and adolescents. Good parenting is a fundamental need in correcting wrong character in children and adolescents. From the report, violence, manifested through childhood aggression and antisocial behavior among adolescents, is hereditary. Changing the lives of young children is possible through appropriate parenting. Child aggression is easily identifiable and preventable at its early stages. Ensuring children are not exposed to social life that may trigger their mindset towards violence is an avenue that can help avoid the instances of children acquiring such antisocial characters. Alternatively, parents can shun antisocial characters in adolescents. Since there is a relationship between childhood aggression and antisocial behavior in adolescents, avenues to prevent the occurrence of child aggression would act as a preventive measure to prevent antisocial characters in adolescents. Dealing with antisocial behavior when the children get to adolescent stage may present challenges. However, it works well altogether to shun such characters at the stage when they are identified. References Narusyte, J., Andershed, A., Neiderhiser, J., & Lichtenstein, P. (2007). Aggression as a mediator of genetic contributions to the association between negative parent–child relationships and adolescent antisocial behavior. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 16:128–137. Pagani, L., Tremblay, R., Nagin, D., Zoccolillo, M., Vitaro, F. & McDuff, P. (2009). Risk Factor Models for Adolescent Verbal and Physical Aggression Toward Fathers. J Fam Viol 24:173–182. Pettit, G. (2004). Violent Children in Developmental Perspective Risk and Protective Factors and the Mechanisms through Which They (May) Operate. American Psychological Society, 13 (5): 194-197. Wilson, H., Stover, C., & Berkowitz, S. (2009). Research Review: The relationship between childhood violence exposure and juvenile antisocial behavior: a meta-analytic review. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 50(7): 769–779. APPENDIX Questionnaire TOPIC: Is violence hereditary or genetic. 1. What is your gender? Please tick ?Male ?Female 2. Are you an educator to or a parent of the child? ?Educator ?Parent 3. Tick the statement you agree that childhood aggression is detectable at young age. ?Strongly agree ?Agree ?Neither agree nor disagree ?Disagree ?Strongly disagree 4. Are you sure that childhood aggression is preventable at young age? ?Yes ?No ?Not sure 5. How often, per week, do you suppose the child shows aggression? ?5- 7 hours ?7-9 hours ?over 9 hours 6. Please state, which signs of irritation the child displays. 7. Tick below if you agree that childhood aggression has a relationship with antisocial behavior at adolescent stage in life. ?Yes ?No ?Not sure 8. Tick below if you agree that antisocial behavior among adolescents start from childhood aggression. ?Yes ?No ?Not sure 9.Tick below if you agree that antisocial behavior among adolescents initiates a bad parent-child relationship. ?Yes ?No ?Not sure 10. Tick below if you agree that parents can prevent adolescent antisocial behavior by correcting childhood aggression. ?Yes ?No ?Not sure 11. Is there any relationship between child aggression and the character of the parent? ?Yes ?No ?Not sure 12. Is there any relationship between antisocial characters and the character of the parent? ?Yes ?No ?Not sure 13. Tick below if you agree that aggression is hereditary. ?Yes ?No ?Not sure 14. Tick below if you agree that aggression is genetic. ?Yes ?No ?Not sure 15. Please provide a short explanation for your answer in (13) and (14) above. Read More