Kids are not born violent, there is no such thing as a violent baby, so how do people become violent, how do our children, our teenage children become violent? Well the answer is easy, but solving that issue is not, they learn that type of behavior from us. Teenagers learn violent behavior in their home, from their parents, in the school and also some of it from television and games. Children that are exposed to that kind of behavior have a great chance to act violently sooner or later.

teen violence

The most commonly known factors that directly influence teenagers and children to act violently are being a victim of some kind of violence, physical or even sexual abuse. Almost every child that experience something like that has a great chance to turn to violence, statistics show that one out of three abused children turns out violent. Those are the stats for children being directly exposed to violence as victims, but a high chance of being violent has every child that sees violence every day. Teens that are exposed to violence at home or in their school, also children that watch extensive quantity of violent shows on TV or play violent games too much. For a little older teenager, use of drugs and alcohol increases the possibility of teen violence happening, also presence of firearms in the house may contribute. And of course there is always the social factor, wealth, single parenting, unemployment and other social factors.
So, it’s easy to figure out what parents and teachers should do in order to avoid teen violence, but sometimes single effort is not enough. Simply isolating, or trying to isolate, a child from all of those examples is impossible, so what is the best course of action, how to protect your child and prevent teen violence? Unfortunately there is no simple answer, but following a few things and avoiding certain situations should significantly diminish the number of cases with teen violence. It’s very important to remember that we as parents are the ones responsible for teen violence, not just parents but every grown up dealing with children. If they learned violent behavior they learned it because we somehow allowed that to happen.
In the end there is no other way to prevent than to care and to be educated, there are some teen violence warning signs that anyone can see and act on them. If you can’t prevent that from happening or if you can’t help your child deal with the situation at hand, there are of course professionals that can.

Dating violence has been defined by the United Sates Department of Justice as “the perpetration or threat of an act of violence by at least one member of an unmarried couple on the other member within the context of dating or courtship.” Dating among teenagers from its cover appears like a totally distinct realm where violence ceases to exist. However, statistics show that one in every five teens has experienced violence from     their dating partners.

Violence in teen dating typically starts with the teenager trying to maintain power and control over the other teenager through some form of abuse. In order to seize control of their partner, a teenager may turn to physical violence, harassment, calling names, sexual abuse etc. Teen dating violence decussates all socio-economic and racial lines; with majority of the victims being young women who are likewise at higher risk for sustaining serious injury.

Most teenagers who are faced with this problem are cognizant of their situation yet choose to stay in the abusive relationship. One reason is because teenagers are typically inexperienced with dating relationships. Some perceive it as a status symbol which is often the consequence of pressure from peers to engage in dating relationships. Another reason is that some teenagers get a false sense of security from the relationship.

Based on recent statistics, about 35% of teenage girls will experience teen dating violence. There are two sides to this problem: one is on the side of young women and the other on the side of young men. Young women may believe that they bear the responsibility of solving the problems in their relationship. Others think that they can modify the behavior or “cure” their boyfriend. Some may even feel that there is no one to ask for help. On the other hand, young men may believe that they possess their partners and have the right to control them in any way they wish. Others may think that masculinity entails physical aggressiveness; or they may lose respect from their male friends once they are affectionate and supportive toward their girlfriends.

Without proper guidance and education, teenagers often fall prey to drugs, sex and other abuses. During this tumultuous stage in their lives, teenagers fail to understand what is happening and being young they don’t know how to react to it. By the time they realize their predicament, it is either too late or they are left devastated physically and emotionally. Teen dating violence can have lasting effects in the life of the victim and can persist through adulthood. In order to avoid all these problems, teenagers must understand that they have options; that they can choose better relationships and believe they are valuable individuals who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Just recently, CNN reported a heart-breaking news about a Berkeley teen who was convicted in the murder of his father. The victim was raising three kids on his own when one of them, for reasons unknown, murdered him with a gunshot to the head.  The judge handling the case found the 16-year-old teen guilty of first-degree murder with an enhancement for using a gun in the death of his 40-year-old father.

When the teen was sentenced, the judge could have him locked up in the California Division of Juvenile Justice until he reaches the age of 25. He could also face a variety of other sentences, including being placed on probation and sent home, being sent to a group home or placed in minimum security reform centers. Regardless of what happens, a life was lost and the life of the teenager and those of his siblings are put in jeopardy with the uneventful passing of their father who is supposed to guide them in today’s chaotic environment.

Teen violence is increasingly becoming one of the most serious problems of modern society. It is a curse not only for the victim but for his/her family and the entire society as well. It is also responsible for thousands of deaths every year around the world.  This kind of violence alienates the victim from his/her family, friends and loved ones. Teenagers who engage in violence, generally try to keep themselves away from everyone. Psychologists explain that they do so for the sake of getting away from social embarrassment. Teen abuse lawyers advocate that the victim must get proper legal support at such delicate phase of her/his life.

Young adults are complicated, inquisitive, and filled with potential. Once left unchecked, they can blow up in a million pieces, causing problems resulting to irreparable damage or even death. This is precisely the reason why parents are endowed with the moral obligation to guide their teens during this crucial stage in their lives.

Oftentimes teenagers find their peer groups to be more significant to them than their parents. This being the case, it is as if parents are handling over the life of their teen to the type of group he/she may belong to. With this change come different expectations. This is why friends are such a key developmental and influential factor in the teenage years. Many teens who get involved in gangs are simply trying to live out their new group’s expectations rather than their parents’. Adolescents are all on an equal plane when it comes to violent behavior. Regardless of background, almost all adolescents become significantly more violent after puberty and it drops off again somewhere in their mid-20s.