Childhood Aggression

Externalizing behaviors are negative behaviors in which a person might act upon, such as aggression, impulsivity, property or personal destruction, and verbal insults (Meany-Walen, Kottman, Bullis, and Dillman Taylor, 2015). This type of behavior may typically lead to more significant underlying problem(s) in the future. According to Meany-Walen et al., (2015) children that display externalizing behaviors such as aggression, and who do not receive the proper intervention have a higher risk of experiencing problems throughout their lives. Additionally, Olson, Bates, Sandy, & Lanthier (2000) state that children experiencing such behaviors are at greater risk for academic failure, rejection by peers, conflicts with family and with educators, delinquency, low educational and occupational attainment, and adult criminality. Preschool children who particularly display high levels of aggression along with social, and emotional issues are also at a higher risk for continuing this form of conduct as well (Davenport & Bourgeois, 2008). It is important to consider the familial contribution to the child’s externalizing behaviors, such as aggression. Papalia, Feldman, & Martorell (2014) consider the family atmosphere as a key influence on the development of children, and the frequency of the externalizing behaviors occurring in children who derive from families with higher levels of conflict. Without intervention

The research was done in a residential facility in which the subjects were legally mandated to go through treatment, meaning they were not able to drop from the study. The subject criteria included adolescent males between the ages of 14 and 17 that had a history of issues with aggression and whose families were willing

The main focus of this paper is to show the connections between aggression and peer rejection and the effects it has on an adolescent whether it be directly or indirectly. One of the most influential aspects for self-esteem in adolescence is social acceptance from peers which helps to endorse a positive sense of self-worth which is linked to effective coping (McMahan, 2009). When an adolescent is rejected by his or her peers, aggression is probable to occur. The most frequent type of aggression, especially in girls, is relational aggression. Relational aggression is trying to hurt someone by verbally attacking them or their social relations through gossip or exclusion (McMahan, 2009).

This paper looks to examine several sources of research related to the development of aggressive behaviors, and criminality. The purpose of this is to assess several of the factors associated with aggression and criminal behaviors. The paper will focus on Crick and Dodge’s model of Social Information Processing, with specific emphasis on Hostile Attribution Bias theory. In exploring this, there will also be discussion of the mental health disorders associated with this model, discussion of how these aggressive behaviors lead to criminal behaviors, and a look at treatment modalities that have been researched as effective treatment for these behaviors.

Aggression is a natural part of human behavior, and can even be adaptive in certain situations. However, when aggression manifests itself in violent behaviors, it becomes problematic. Patterns of aggression change throughout childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood, and these changes usually differ between males and females (Loeber, 1997). Physical aggression is typically greatest early in life and decreases during adolescence, whereas more serious violence tends to increase with age, particularly during adolescence (Loeber, 1997). Despite the changes that occur in aggressive tendencies throughout childhood and adolescence, aggression is seen as a very stable trait, almost as stable as

Trying to reduce aggression while also using aggression is ineffective at lowering these rates in children . Studies have been done to show the correlation between

However, the purpose of this study is that children are at risk for poor relationships with teachers and peers because of the difficulty of behavior (Madill, Scott, Rodkin, 2014) and sometimes could cause disruption for teachers and peers which can affect their social cognitive and behavioral schills. Another purpose is to know that early childhood years is very significant for children to learn positive way to interact with other, and to be an acceptable human being in any social setting. In addition, this study investigates the relation between the aggressiveness in the factor that are associated with peer interaction and social behavior in a sample of preschool-age children. What about the gender differences in the expressive of aggression? Are boys use physical aggressive more often than girls are? Are girls and boys interact differently with their peers?

Disruptive Behavior Disorders. Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) form a cluster of childhood disorders considered to be “disruptive behavior disorders” (American Psychiatric Association, 2004). Although most violent adolescents have more than one mental disorder and they may have internalizing disorders, for example depression or substance abuse, there appear to be increasingly higher rates of physical aggression found in these adolescents who experience disruptive behavior disorders than for those with other mental disorders. The fact that violent juvenile offenders are more likely to have these diagnoses is not surprising, because impulsive and/or aggressive behaviors are part of their diagnostic criteria. Additionally, there is relatively high co-morbidity with substance abuse disorders, which are also associated with juvenile violence (Moeller, 2001). Individuals with conduct disorder have the following features but this list is not inclusive for example they may have little empathy and little concern for the feelings, wishes, and wellbeing of others, respond with aggression, may be callous and lack appropriate feelings of guilt re remorse, self-esteem may be low despite a projected

Conduct Disorder is a severe mental health problem for several reasons. First, it involves aggression, criminal behavior, and it is associated with social, emotional, and academic problems. For example, CD often leads a child to be rejected by his or her peers and to be suspended or expelled from school (Frick, 2016). Children and adolescence with CD have problems with mental health, drug and alcohol abuse, health concerns, legal problems, attaining education, and social issues in adolescence and adulthood. Given the seriousness of CD, a significant amount of research has been put forth to shed light on the causes of CD. This research has discovered numerous factors that can place a child at risk for CD. These risk factors include neurochemical and autonomic irregularities, neurocognitive deficits, processing of social information, temperamental and personality predispositions. Additional, risk factors include prenatal exposure to toxins, ineffective discipline, association with deviant peers, and exposure to violence(Justin et al. 2013).

Furthermore, conduct disorder is classified into overt and covert behaviors; and this paper will research the findings of covert conduct disorder. The two basic types of aggression: overt-aggression and covert-aggression can be easily determined by studying specific behaviors displayed by a child thought to have CD. For example, for a child to be open, direct, and obvious in their manner of fighting, disrespect, and destructiveness their behavior is considered overtly aggressive. Examples of overt CD include: frequent fighting/temper tantrums, arguing or refusing to obey adults, deliberately annoying other people, as well as acting angry and

According to a study that began in 1956, children who were found to be aggressive between ages 7 and 12 were most likely to have difficulty adjusting in adolescence (Goleman, 1988). Another study showed that if children were not treated early, they were more likely to have problems with the law as well as develop depression and neuroses (Goleman, 1988). Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (2007) reports a study of 270 children being completed to show that excessive tantrums in preschoolers are linked to psychiatric disorders. Based on these studies, it is important to identify aggressive behavior early so it can be properly treated.

Physical assault and aggression is the second leading cause of death among 14 to 17 year olds, next to vehicular accidents (Loeber). But why are humans so aggressive in the first place? There are two sides of the debate: Nature, and Nurture. Some say that it’s human nature, genetics that cause most behaviors, while others say that we act as we learned during childhood. This argument applies to aggression as well. Aggression is mainly caused by things during childhood and adolescence where people learn from various sources about aggression, although, human psychology plays a slight factor.

One theory as to why people act aggressively can be found in social learning theory. Psychologist Bandura’s theory states that people learn by observing and imitating behaviors. (Schneider, 2011; Kassin et al, 2017). Bandura developed the well-known Bobo doll experiment in which children imitated aggressive behaviors they witnessed in adult role models. Interestingly, as the aggressive behavior of the adults increased, so did the children’s. Referencing Bandura, Lereya and others tell us that family experiences impact children’s ability to cope at school and influence their school relationships. He

Virtually every study has found a connotation between childhood risk factors and adolescent delinquency and adult criminal behavior. There are thousands of different behavioral risk factors which are relatable to later life involvement in crime and delinquency (Beaver, K.M., 2017). Some examples of behavioral problems in children are attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, peer rejections, abuse, neuropsychological deficits, conduct disorder, low cognitive abilities, family history of criminal behavior and maltreatment/neglect (Beaver, K.M., 2017). These behavioral problems can be distinguished as early as 5 years of age (Flores, J.R., 2003). However, Farrington, D. P. & Coid, J. W. (Ed.). (2003) has found that there is a heightened frequency of aggression found as early as 2 years. In figure 1, we can see at age 2 there is a peak in regularity in physical aggression and then that is followed by a steep decline up to age 5 and a steady decline up to adolescence.

S. Lee, J. Manganello, J. Rice, C. Taylor (2010) preformed a study to understand childhood aggression. The journal article of Mothers’ Spanking of 3-Year-Old Children and Subsequent Risk of Children’s Aggressive Behavior starts by saying that they are not the first to perform this research and many of studies have displayed connection between corporal punishment with children and child aggression. They are testing their research with new controlling factors, which have not been controlled together before. (Lee et al., 2010) The main goal of the article is to determine the association between the use of corporal punishment against 3-year-old children and recognize later aggressive behavior among those children.