Violence is a learned behavior. Children learn violent behaviors from their family and peers, as well as observe it in their neighborhoods and in the community at large. These behaviors are reinforced by what youth see on television, on the Internet, in video games, movies, music videos, and what they hear in their music.

When children are disciplined with severe corporal punishment or verbal abuse, or when they are physically or sexually abused, or when they witness such behavior in their home, it is not surprising that they behave violently toward others.

Research studies have shown that violent behavior can be decreased or even prevented if these risk factors are significantly reduced or eliminated:

Being the victim of physical abuse and/or sexual abuse
Exposure to violence in the home and/or community
Exposure to violence in media (TV, movies, etc.)
Use of drugs and/or alcohol
Presence of firearms in home
Combination of stressful family socioeconomic factors (poverty, severe deprivation, marital breakup, single parenting, unemployment, loss of support from extended family)

Most importantly, efforts should be directed at dramatically decreasing the exposure of children and adolescents to violence in the home, community, and through the media.

As an individual is exposed to more risk factors, the probability that he or she will engage in violent behavior increases. Clearly, violence leads to violence.

Warning Signs

Get help quickly if your child is exhibiting these warning signs for potential violence:

threats of violence, either verbal or written
past violent or aggressive behavior (including uncontrollable angry outbursts)
access to guns or other weapons
bringing a weapon to school
past suicide attempts or threats
family history of violent behavior or suicide attempts
blaming others and/or unwilling to accept responsibility for one's own actions
recent experience of humiliation, shame, loss, or rejection
bullying or intimidating peers or younger children
being a victim of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, neglect)
witnessing abuse or violence in the home
themes of death or depression repeatedly evident in conversation, written expressions, reading selections, or artwork
preoccupation with themes and acts of violence in TV shows, movies, music, magazines, comics, books, video games, and Internet sites
mental illness, such as depression, mania, psychosis, or bipolar disorder
use of alcohol or illicit drugs
disciplinary problems at school or in the community (delinquent behavior)
past destruction of property or vandalism
cruelty to animals
firesetting behavior
poor peer relationships and/or social isolation
involvement with cults or gangs
little or no supervision or support from parents or other caring adult
a sense of entitlement -- believing he/she should get what he/she wants at whatever expense

Typically, the greater the number of these warning signs present, the greater the risk. It is important to realize, however, that many children exhibit these warning signs and never resort to violence. Even so, these signs can be a cue that something is wrong, and your child needs help.

Guns and Violence

As a precaution, make sure that your child does not have access to firearms, and remove other dangerous materials or objects from your home.

If there is a gun in your home, it must be kept out of reach of your children and their friends.

The gun must also be kept safe from family members who are depressed, abusive to others or abusing drugs (including alcohol), or who have Alzheimer's disease.

If there is a gun in your home, keep it unloaded and locked away, separate from the bullets, with the key available only to responsible adults.

Teenagers often act without thinking first. When teenagers are angry or depressed, they are more likely to kill themselves or harm themselves or others if they can easily get a gun.

It's best not to have a gun in your home at all if someone who lives there is depressed or thinking of suicide, or is a troubled teenager.

If you have a gun in your home, you are 5 times more likely to have a suicide in your house than homes without a gun. An unlocked gun could be the death of your family.

Get Help

If you are concerned about your child possibly committing violence, you need to arrange for him or her to be seen by a qualified mental health professional.

Look for a child/family mental health professional who is experienced in working with adolescents and their families.

The goals of treatment typically focus on helping the teen to:

learn how to control anger
express anger and frustrations in appropriate ways
be responsible for his/her actions
accept consequences
address family conflicts, school problems, and community issues

Information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Teen Behavior Problems - Conduct Disorder

Teen Dating Violence

Anger in Our Teens & in Ourselves - Teen Depression

FREE TRIAL. Call 1-877-362-8727

Lost Boys: Why Our Sons Turn Violent and How We Can Save Them

by James Garbarino

Sugar and Spice and No Longer Nice: How We Can Stop Girls' Violence

by Deborah Prothrow-Stith

and Howard R. Spivak

Help, Support, Advocacy

What To Do in an Emergency

In an emergency situation, if you feel you or others are in danger, or if your child refuses help, it may be necessary to contact local police for assistance or take the child to the nearest emergency room for evaluation. Do not hesitate to call 911 or a crisis hotline if you believe that your child is a danger to himself/herself or others.

ACT (Adults and Children Together Against Violence) ~ Violence prevention project that focuses on adults who raise, care for, and teach young children ages 0 to 8 years. It is designed to prevent violence by helping these adults to be positive role modls and learn the skills to teach young children nonviolent ways to resolve conflicts, deal with frustration, and handle anger.

Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence ~ CSPV, a research program of the Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS) at the University of Colorado at Boulder, provides informed assistance to groups committed to understanding and preventing violence, particularly adolescent violence.

Dating Violence Resource Center ~ Twenty percent of teenage girls and young women have experienced some form of dating violence -- controlling, abusive, and aggressive behavior in a dating or romantic relationship. Call toll-free: 1-800-FYI-CALL

Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse ~ Research, education, and access to violence-related resources.

Mothers Against Teen Violence ~ Violence prevention for schools and communities.

National Center for Victims of Crime ~ Resource and advocacy organization that serves individuals, families, and communities harmed by crime. Call the toll-free National Crime Victim Helpline at 1-800-FYI-CALL.

National Coalition Against Violent Athletes ~ Educates the public on a variety of issues regarding athletes and violent behavior, while also providing support to the victims, including but not limited to, advocacy, referrals, and research.

National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center ~ A Federal resource for communities working to prevent violence committed by and against young people.

Prevention Institute ~ Community projects that address injury and violence prevention, traffic safety, health disparities, nutrition and physical activity, and youth development.

More Information

Aggression and Violence: The Neurobiology of Experience ~ Are violent children conceived or created? Is there a neurobiological reason that a child is violent? What makes a child violent?

Best Practices of Youth Violence Prevention ~ The effectiveness of specific violence prevention practices in four key areas: parents and families; home visiting; social and conflict resolution skills; and mentoring. Spanish version

Detecting the potential for violence ~ What is the difference between a threat that is likely to be acted on and a threat that is not?

Hate on Display: A Visual Database of Extremist Symbols, Logos and Tattoos ~ An overview of symbols frequently used by hate or extremist groups.

The Link Between Violence Against Animals and Violence Against Humans ~ Animal abuse doesn't occur in isolation; rather, it takes place in a complex net of disturbed family relations - where there may be child abuse, animal abuse, and/or domestic violence.

Marketing Violence to Children (pdf) ~ In 2000, six leading national public health organizations, after reviewing 1,000 studies and after more than 30 years of research, concluded "viewing entertainment violence can lead to increases in aggressive attitudes, values, and behaviors, particularly in children."

Parent Abuse: The Abuse of Parents by Their Teenage Children (pdf) ~ Defines parent abuse and discusses how wide spread it is. Discusses who is likely to be abusive, who is likely to be abused, the effects it has on the family, and how to get help for the abusive youth.

Violence in Media Entertainment ~ Media violence has not just increased in quantity; it has also become much more graphic, much more sexual, and much more sadistic.

What Makes Kids Care? Teaching Gentleness in a Violent World ~ What most inspires a child to grow up caring about others is the caring that the child receives. Experts point out that when children feel a more secure base at home, they're more likely to venture out and pay attention to others; it's when they feel deprived of love and nurturing that they focus on themselves and their own needs. Furthermore, that nurturing is itself a perfect role model for children.