Violence pervades society today, and many children are exposed daily to violence at home, in school and in the media. According to statistics in the "Juvenile Justice Bulletin" published by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, in 2008, juveniles accounted for 16 percent of all violent crime arrests and 26 percent of all property crime arrests. In 2008, the murder arrest rate for juveniles increased by 17 percent from 2004. Violent behavior in teens can be prevented if you're able to recognize the early warning signs.
Bullying
Bullying by one's peers can catapult into additional harm through self-hatred and aggression. Helpguide contributors, Melinda Smith, M.A., Suzanne Barston and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. warn that many teens who suffer from depression, especially boys who have been victims of bullying, become violent. Bullying creates poor peer interaction and can cause social isolation that may lead a teen who has been a victim of bullying into replicating the behavior and projecting it on other weaker classmates. Smith, Barston and Segal agree that a teen who falls prey to bullying may initially show signs of self-loathing and suicidal threats, but when these tendencies are disregarded, they can lead to aggression and extremely violent crimes.
Threats
Threatening to harm oneself or others is a warning sign of potential violence that shouldn't be ignored. Smith, Barston and Segal note that the third leading cause of death in 15 to 24 year olds is suicide. The majority of suicide rates in teens are a result of depression or some other psychological disorder. Author Jan Nissl, R.N., says that talking about violence, especially if it's calculated and directed at a specific group of people, is an indication of severe potential for violence. Psychologist, Ofer Zur, adds that the more detailed the plan of violence is, the higher the degree of risk.
Disruptive Behavior
Engaging in high-risk behaviors, like reckless driving, alcohol or drug abuse, vandalizing property, self-mutilation and unsafe sex, are often ways that teens attempt to cope with emotional pain. According to the Focus Adolescent Services, when teens have a history of physical or sexual abuse or witness such behavior in their home, they are more inclined to commit violent acts themselves. Cruelty toward animals and starting fires are subtle signs that your teen's violence may intensify over time. Nissl relates that the probability of teen violence is amplified when he displays indications of rejection, problems with authority, poor performance in school and withdrawal from his normal activities and friends.
