Causes and Effects of Violence in Children

1701 Words4 Pages

Recent research has shown that the relation rate between children and violence is increasing. In fact, the article Children and Violence states that as many as 10 million children per year may witness or be victims of violence in their home, schools, or communities across the United States. Childhood exposure to violence has a huge overwhelming impact on children’s development, affect emotional growth, cognitive development, physical health, and school performances. This increase in children’s exposure to violence suggests that more children are at risk than what was expected. Has the definition of violence changed or now the society does not consider the impact ferocity has on children?

Merriam-Webster defines violence as an “exertion of physical force so as to injure or abuse [oneself or the other].” There are many views as to why children are violent. Frieman states that children with conduct disorder [a monotonous and untiring pattern of manners in which the basic rights of others or major-appropriate communal norms are violated] would have a psychological disturbances that reveals itself in violent behavior. However, another view that is believed to contribute to violence in children is that these children will be living in a violent society and they usually respond to violence with violence; thus, learning to adjust in a violent environment (Frieman 145). To many individuals, media is another factor that contributes to the increase of violence in children. Examples of violence that can affect children include car accidents, natural disasters, serious medical treatment, community/domestic violence, physical/emotional/sexual abuse, sudden death/loss and crime. Violence in children include a variety of behaviors such as threa...

... middle of paper ...

... Web. 1 Nov 2011. http://www.athealth.com/Consumer/disorders/complextrauma.html

Frieman, Barry, B. What Teachers Need to Know About Children At Risk. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., 2001. Print.

Groves, Betsy, M. “Mental Health Services for Children Who Witness Domestic Violence.” At Health, Inc., n.d. Web. 1 Nov 2011. http://www.athealth.com/Practitioner/ceduc/dv_children.html

Levine, Diane, E. “Beyond Banning War and Superhero Play: Meeting Children’s needs in Violent Times.” National Association for the Education of Young Children Inc., n.d. Web. 10 Nov 2011.

“Media Violence & Children.” Adults & Children Together Against Violence. American Psychological Association Inc., n.d. Web. 1 Nov 2011. http://actagainstviolence.apa.org/mediaviolence/index.html

“Violence.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Incorporated 2004.Print

Open Document