What Causes Children to Be Violent?

Children are becoming increasingly more violent in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the second leading cause of death among 10- to 24-year-old individuals is youth violence. Children become involved with fighting, bullying or direct aggression toward others. With the advancement of technology, kids have taken bullying to new extremes by broadcasting aggressive behavior via email or texting. Several factors can contribute to child violence.

Domestic Violence

• Domestic violence can shape how a child will grow up.

  Witnessing or becoming the victim of domestic violence will severely alter a child's life. Children of domestic violence face a stressful environment. Abused children can develop more psychological and behavioral issues than a child who has a stable family environment. Children of violence will exhibit aggressive tendencies, mood swings and uncontrollable behavior. Many children who witness abuse may have difficulty with reasoning. They may see violence as a way of resolving conflicts.

Media Violence

• Children have access to violence on TV.

  In the United States, children watch an average three hours of television in one day, reports the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Being susceptible to what they watch, children can imitate what they see, become immune to violence or see violence as an acceptable form of behavior. Children with behavioral issues, or those having a lack of impulse control, tend to act out more due to TV violence.

Gender Differences

• Males bully more.

  Being a male can contribute to possible child violence. Boys have a higher rate of physical violence than girls. While girls can also bully their peers, boys tend to engage more in physical confrontations. Male bullies may initiate teasing to get a response from their victim, before escalating in a physical way.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

• Children with antisocial personality disorder have no regard for others.

  Children with antisocial personality disorder can engage in harmful behavior. They will have no regard for the well-being of others. The Mayo Clinic indicates that a person's genes or environmental surroundings can contribute to developing this personality disorder. Children with antisocial personality disorder will have a history of conduct disorders, harm others or animals, engage in impulsive behavior and do not show remorse for their actions.