Violence and Aggression among Children - Research Paper Example

?Violence and Aggression among Children Introduction The Keywords in Hannah Arendt article, The Concept of Power, are sovereign, violence, force, strength, authority. It brings our minds to the society’s perception of aggression and violence. An aggressive and violent child in school is seen as being strong, tough, fearless and domineering, but this to all extend is a misconception. It is a focus on the shadow, instead of the substance. Aggression and violence in children is a sign of weakness and fear rather than strength, power and fearlessness and needs the opposite to manage and reduce them. It is time the society realizes this fact and adopts it in helping curb the headache of aggression and violence in children not only for parents but the society at large. Aggression and violence is a demonstration of fear and anxiety. Children who are exposed to fearful events are affected in their sub-consciousness, adopting a defensive mechanism against fear which at most times results in aggression and violence. The principle is the popular saying: “the best way to defend is to attack”. Aggression is the fight of the fear in them. Barbara Fadem (2000) reveals that: “Children at risk for showing aggressive behavior in adulthood frequently abuse animals, have low intelligence, and cannot defer gratification. Their parents frequently display criminal behavior, abuse drugs and alcohol, and have physically or sexually abused them (or both).” (p. 189).  Children in this stage are still in their learning stage and pick up behaviors quickly from their surroundings. In psychology learning theory, Fadem (2000, pg. 56) exposed learned helplessness: this scenario can be cited. A child is abused daily by an aggressive adult, from which he is unable to escape. By classical conditioning, the child learns that there is an association between an aversion stimulus (e.g. being beaten) and the inability to escape. Subsequently, the child makes no attempt to escape when beaten or abused; instead the child becomes hopeless and apathetic. He cultivates a defensive attitude and eventually becomes stubborn and a bully also. The weakness of the aggressive child is so obvious that if critically considered, could be used to manage and avoid aggression in children. E. Anderson (1994), as cited in Roy, Joseph and Laura (1996), confirmed that low self-esteem is a persistent cause of the violence among the youth gangs. (pg. 6) The aggressive adolescent normally demonstrates four basic traits: immaturity, physical and verbal aggression, skill deficiency, and withdrawal. They are so weak within that they lack the social skills in solving problems and taking up responsibility for their own actions. Is that not pathetic? The young child everyone taught was a bully, not fearing and respecting his colleagues, and feels he is on top of the world, is just some weak, pathetic, low self-esteem guy. Aggression and violence in children are signs of deprivation. According to Neurobiologist, Dr. Bruce (2011), “deprivation of key developmental experiences (which leads to underdevelopment of cortical, sub-cortical and limbic areas) of the brain will necessarily result in persistence of primitive, immature behavioral reactivity, and, thereby, predispose an individual to violent behavior”. In fact, Bruce said that “Developmental neglect and traumatic stress during childhood create violent, remorseless children”. Another aspect of this deprivation is the great virtues that one might miss. These include love, gratitude, cheerfulness, humility and others. The lack of these great virtues is the hostility, ingratitude, grumpy, stubborn attitudes that the aggressive child demonstrates. So while we may be saying that a child is too aggressive – tough and strong, we should also take notice of the possible developmental disabilities. The violent might not be aggressive enough on the inside. Adults, especially parents, teachers and social workers need to come to the realization of this fact so that they can adopt the right practices in controlling their wards or children with aggressive and violent behaviors. If these, who are weak, deprived and fearful on the inside are shunned, despised and insulted on the outside, then we would be getting nowhere in the fight against aggression and violence in children. Studies have revealed that severe punishment is not the best means of fighting aggression and violence in children though unfortunately, it is the most typically utilised tactic. Severe punishment in itself is an aggressive act and it will be inappropriate to fight aggression with aggression. It is however believed that mild punishment is more appropriate in stopping aggression in children. Correction must be done in love by remaining calm and rebuking in a respectful and rational manner, making sure you are not condoning violence. Understanding the position that these children are in will help society to attach much love and concern in dealing with aggressive and violent children. If aggression were to be a virus, then it would be wrong to treat it with a virus; we need an antivirus. The society can be of help to itself if the right perception is developed about aggression and violence. Our streets might be less of violent youth who are frustrated in life because nobody really cares about what is happening to them on the inside.  Statement of the Problem Violent and aggressive behavior in children is a major dilemma in the United States. Since the 1980s, the Child Stats website was able to note that a significant 19% to almost 26% of all serious crimes actually involve children. This trend was attributed to the children's increased exposure to violent television shows and later on to similarly violent video games (Jernigan, 2010). Likewise, the American Psychological Association has repeatedly conducted studies successfully linking youth aggression and violence to exposure to violent media such as television shows and video games (1994, 2000 and 2005). Youth violence is also a problem that the United States seek to combat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report in 2007 claiming that the primary cause of death of the American youth (aged 1 to 24) is due to accidental injury followed closely by homicide. For African Americans aged 10 to 24, homicide is the primary cause of death (Youth Violence Fact Sheet, 2007). These numbers is a serious cause of alarm for the United States as its population is primarily composed of individuals belonging to the 12 to 20 age bracket. As a result, there is a need to conduct a deeper analysis as to the concomitant cause of violent and aggressive behavior in children. While medical experts consider it as a deeply-ingrained process that involves much of the subconsciousness of the child, the state sees it as a potential cause of societal marginalization (Mountcastle, 1998). That is, as instances of youth violence continue to accumulate, the Americans invariably begin to doubt the systemic value and moral fortitude of their nation. Literature Review A review of current studies conducted on the effect of exposure to violent and aggressive films or similar video games on the behavior of children was endeavored and at the onset, a positive relationship is claimed by most journals and articles. High exposure to violent and aggressive media is claimed to be directly affecting the behavior of children and the propensity of the occurrence of youth violence. A particular study conducted by Anderson et. al. (2003), entitled “The Influence of Media Violence on Youth” maintained the existence of "unequivocal evidence" linking the exposure of children to violent television shows and movies, video games and even music to aggressive and violent behavior. The study further stated that the prevalence of violence in media not only opens the children to such tendencies but more so, encourages such action (Anderson, et. al., 2003). Another study conducted in 1985 by the Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters illustrated the same findings. Kaj Bjorkqvist, proponent of the said study formed two groups of children aged five and six years old to elucidate the effect of exposure to media violence of children. The first group was made to watch a violent movie. The second was made to watch a non-violent film. The results yielded the high tendencies of the children who watched the violent movie to resort to aggressive behavior and assault on their playmates when the two groups were merged into one room. Also, the study conducted by Bjorkqvist was able to show that exposure to violent media evokes aggressive thinking and a very little aggression threshold.  Huesmann (2003), in his study entitled "Longitudinal Relations between Children's Exposure to TV Violence and Their Aggressive and Violent Behavior in Young Adulthood: 1977–1992" established that a concrete relationship exists between exposure to violent television shows and aggression. Furthermore, the said study claimed that oftentimes, the children exposed to such violent shows exhibit their aggressive behavior and violent tendencies when they reach young adulthood. Huesmann (2003) also stated that key indicators of aggressive behavior and violent tendencies in young adults are shown though punching, beating, choking, threatening, or attacking with a knife or gun. With the prevalence of video games and the apparent boundless access of children to violent media, most especially through the internet, parents seem to be at a loss as to how to contain and quell the negative influence of the mentioned facilities to their children. A myriad of studies have already been conducted to illustrate the relationship of violent and aggressive behavior to violent media and the results are not promising. The studies reviewed in this research all point out that there is a positive and direct relationship attributing aggressive and violent behavior to exposure to such materials and that such behavior is typically exhibited during the young adulthood years of the child. As such, measures should then be taken to address this growing concern. Findings After conducting an in-depth review of the articles, journals and books covering the stated relationship of exposure to violent and aggressive and violent behavior in youth, one common theme appears to be the main thrust. That is, there is a positive relationship between the variables. It cannot be denied that after an exhaustive and multifarious psychological, psychiatrical, sociological and even anthropological assessment of the behavioral patterns of children exposed to such violent media, that there is a direct causal relationship between the two.  The study conducted by Anderson, et. al., (2003) made mention of the fact that exposure to such types of media not only opens the children to a different perspective and outlook, it actually promotes the apparent viability of such actuation and perception. As such, exposure to such aggressive and violent media not only informs them of such matters but fosters a conception that such manner is viable (Anderson, et. al., 2003). The Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters supported this idea as the study they conducted yielded the idea that exposure to violent television shows, movies, music and video games actually promotes a different way of thinking to the children exposed to such. This means that the more the children are made to endure such facilities, the more they imbibe the said violent culture which dictates their action, responses and over all perception. As a result, exposure to violent media forges a new idealism into the relatively unformed minds of the youth. As the child is led to believe of the viability of the so-called alternate culture governed by violence and aggression, the child is likewise made to forget the other aspects of his personality. As such, he begins to exhibit attitudinal patterns that were not initially molded into his being. That is, the child starts to act parallel to the simulated reality of the movies or video games that he was exposed to. This then is the behavioral transformation caused by exposure to violent media of children who are of unformed and under-developed maturity. In this regard, the cost of the attitudinal modification is too grave to contemplate. Discussion The research endeavored to elucidate proof that would illustrate a possible correlation between the children's exposure to violent media and their propensity to exhibit violent behavior. Three studies were reviewed and the result is a resounding affirmation that early exposure to such violent and aggressive behavior is likely to cause them to imbibe such outlook. Such behavior often translates to teenage violence which accounts for a significant portion of the deaths occurring in the American youth (Huesmann, 2003). As such, media evidence is deemed as a causal risk that accounts for the increasing rate in homicide in youth (Youth Violence Fact Sheet, 2007). From a clinical perspective, violence and aggression is taken as a natural response of an individual to fear and anxiety (Mountcastle, 1998). For this reason, such apparent normalcy cannot be stripped away from a person as this would contradict his essential humanity (Aronson, Wilson and Akert, 2006). However, from several studies conducted throughout the years, this response to fear and anxiety is aggravated by other factors, among of these is the exposure of children to violent television shows, movies, music and video games (Baumeister, Smart and Bohen, 1996). The propensity of exhibiting this behavior is then multiplied a thousand times over as the youth is made to take on such precepts at the time when they are impressionable and are likely to be swayed by what they see (Benavente, 2008). This situation creates a behavioral modification that is often translated into youth violence and to a certain extent, crimes (Benavente, 2008). Conclusion From the research conducted, it is evident that media commands a very important power in shaping the life of an individual (Anderson, et. al., 2003). As a tool, the media, through its various forms is able to communicate ideas and notions to the viewer that is likely to affect the person's general tendencies. From the studies mentioned, it is undeniable that exposure to such medium spells out deviation in personality and perception (Huesmann, 2003). This particular study endeavored to showcase the effect of violent media to a child's outlook. After an in-depth assessment of the many articles written on the issue, it became obvious that a common ground has been reached and that a conclusive fact has been established. That is, there is a positive and direct causal relationship between exposure to violent media and aggressive behavior. The current high demand in violent and aggressive media in the youth, be it heavy metal or rock music, action-adventure movies or even the gruesome role playing games is an indicator that the public is yet to be convinced of the magnitude of the effect of these objects to the society. Yet the fact remains that violent and aggressive tendencies are basic human postulates that are not in itself wrong (Clark, 1998). However, certain reflex actions associated with such violent and aggressive tendencies are the consequences that the society seeks to eradicate. It then becomes essential to find that elusive margin that would separate normal reaction to the destructive response triggered by artificial realities (Clark, 1998). After all, youth violence and aggression evidently translates into crime. As such, the base inclination of man is then forged into his greatest folly.  References Aronson, E., Wilson, T., & Akert, R. (2006). Social Psychology. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall. Fadem, B. (2000). Behavioral Science. (3rd ed.). United States of America Benavente, J. (2008). What Makes Children Violent. Colorado State University. Perry, B. (2011). Aggression and Violence: The Neurobiology of Experience, viewed 11 October 2011, http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/bruceperry/aggression_violence.htm Anderson, et. al. (2003). The Influence of Media Violence on Youth. Psychological Science in the Public Interest 4, no. 3 (2003): 81–110.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Youth Violence: Fact Sheet,” 2007, viewed 11 October 2011, www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/yvfacts.htm. Child Stats; Youth Perpetrators of Serious Violent Crimes; 2010 Clark, A. (1998). Where brain, body, and world collide.  Daedulus 127, 257-280. Gentile, D. (2007). The Rating Systems for Media Products. Handbook on Children and Media: Praeger. Dollard, J., Doob, L.W., Miller, N.E., Mowrer, O.H., Sears, R.R. (1939). Frustration and aggression. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT. Hannah Arendt, Hannah Arendt on The Concept of Power #1, http://humanists.net/pdhutcheon/Papers%20and%20Presentations/arendt.htm Bjorkqvist, K. (1985). Violent Films, Anxiety, and Aggression. Jernigan, K. (2010). Children & Violent Behavior, http://www.livestrong.com/article/76599-children-violent-behavior/ L. R. Huesmann and others, “Longitudinal Relations between Children's Exposure to TV Violence and Their Aggressive and Violent Behavior in Young Adulthood: 1977–1992,” Developmental Psychology 39, no. 2 (2003): 201–21. Miller, N. E., 1941. The frustration-aggression hypothesis [1]. Psychol Rev 48, 337-342. Mountcastle, V., 1998. Brain science at the Century’s Ebb.  Daedulus 127, 1-36. Roy F. Baumeister, Laura Smart and Joseph M. Bohen, Relation of Threatened Egotism to Violence and Aggression, Vol. 103, No. 1, 5-33, 1996, pg. 6, published by the American Psychological Association Inc. Read More