Teen Aggression Is a Serious

Teen aggression is a serious issue tat has received a great deal of attention in recent years. Today's teenagers often have a great deal of rage and anger that is expressed through aggressive behavior. The purpose of this discussion is to examine the phenomenon of teen aggression from a social psychology perspective. The research will focus on the causes of teenage aggression and the ways in which it can be treated.

Teen Aggression

Teen aggression is a problem that can lead to serious social issues including teenage delinquency (Facts for teens: Agression). In recent years there have been several cases around the country involving incidences of teen aggression. Most recently a teenaged boy in Chicago was beaten to death by a group of his peers. In this case the reasons for such violence were unclear and it was evident that the victim did not provoke the beating. This led many to question why these teenagers were so violent towards the victim. For the most part the aggression was blamed on the environment in which the teenagers live. Although there is a correlation between environment and teen aggression there are also some other reasons for the presence of adolescent aggression.

Causes of teen aggression

There are several causes of teen aggression. In many cases teen aggression is linked to interpersonal conflict caused by family life or problems in school. Peterson and Sheldon (2006) point out that there is a constant and consistent correlation between teen aggression and Family incomes and the education level of parents. In addition teen aggression has also been linked to neighborhood factors associated with ethnic heterogeneity and household turnover. These neighborhood factors as also related to conduct problems in youth. Teen aggression is also prevalent in schools that are overcrowded with aggressive teens being placed in the same classrooms. The authors further explain that in low income neighborhoods the development of aggression in teens is often related to social contextual factors. On the other hand, the teen aggression prevalent in adolescents from middle or upper class environments are more likely to be associated with biological factors. The authors also report that the differences that exists between social classes as it pertains to teen aggression are most prominent during late grade school and middle school.

In addition to environmental factors that influence the development of teen aggression, the authors explain that a great deal of the antisocial behavior associated with teen aggression is inherited. The author's report that between 40% and 50% of any type of social behavior is inherited. In addition the authors explain that the presence of certain Genes often predispose people to eventually becoming aggressive or violent. The authors further explains that "There is also a moderate degree of heritability in several characteristics related to aggression, including a potential for substance abuse, impulsivity, attention problems, and difficult temperament. These may represent a common genetic vulnerability (Peterson and Sheldon 2006)."

The authors also explains that teenage boys are more likely to be physically aggressive than teenage girls. It is believed that the issues that are likely to lead to aggression in boys may not be the same factors that lead to aggression in girls. The other factors that can lead to aggression include prenatal and perinatal exposure to negative environments. These conditions are inclusive of maternal malnutrition along with drug dependency during pregnancy. More specifically the ingestion of substances such as alcohol, methadone, lead and tobacco during pregnancy are correlated to increased behavioral problems during childhood or adolescence (Dodge and Pettit, 2003). In addition the authors note that obstetrical problems are also an indicator of future physical aggression particularly as it occurs in combination with adverse family functioning (Arseneault et al. 2002).

Additionally parenting skills can also contribute to teenage aggression. The authors explain that parenting has often been listed as a significant cause of the development of conduct disorders. The authors also explain that the correcting of parenting is the best target for psychosocial intervention. The parenting patterns that are most likely to cause teenage aggression include "inconsistent and/or harsh discipline, lower levels of nurturance and supervision, and inadvertent reinforcement of young children's aversive responses (Peterson and Sheldon 2006)." acknowledgment or placing too much emphasis on a child's negative behaviors perpetuates a negative cycle between the parent and the child (Peterson and Sheldon 2006). In addition, factors that cause stress such as divorce or death increase the likelihood that a teenager will have aggressive tendencies (Peterson and Sheldon 2006). Additionally maternal depression, substance abuse or maternal anxiety can all lead to aggressive behaviors in teenagers (Peterson and Sheldon 2006).

According to Peterson and Sheldon (2006) teenage aggression can also be linked to neuropsychiatric disorders. In fact the authors asserts that

"Persistent aggressive behavior is a common feature in many neuropsychiatric disorders and is the most common reason for referral to a child and adolescent mental health clinic [1]. Neurological features associated with aggression include low overall IQ and relative deficits in verbal learning, memory, and fluency [2]. Deficits in executive functioning and working memory are also common [3] and may be especially pronounced with co-occurring attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)."

The aggressive behavior can involve lashing out at family members, friends or strangers. The behavior is often associated with violent acts such as physical and sexual assault. Teenage aggression is an issue that parents and all adults who work with children should be concerned about. Such behavior can lead to life long problems for the aggressor and potential victims. As such several treatments have been developed to remedy teen aggression. These treatments will be discussed in the next section of this discussion.

Treatment for Adolescent Aggression

Teen aggression is a situation that can and should be treated. One of the most prevalent forms of is anger management. This particular tactic shows teens suffering form aggression issues how to channel there energy in a direction that is positive and not aggressive. According to Feindler (2005), " In order to prevent an aggressive reaction to a triggering stimulus, it is necessary for youths to manage their anger arousal and process the interpersonal exchange such that a more prosocial response is exhibited. The anger management treatment protocols focus on the three hypothesized components of the anger experience: physiological responses, cognitive processes, and behavioral responses (Feindler)."

In addition in cases where anger consist of impulsive thoughts, cognitive distortions, or heightened physiological arousal the anger management intervention should focus on assisting the teenager in developing skills related to self-control. For instance, the author explains, "For the physiological aspect, anger management first directs the client to identify the experience of anger, to label the various intensities of the emotion, and to recognize the early warning signs such as a flushed feeling or quickened heart rate. The experience of anger is validated as a normal and frequently occurring emotion that has an intensity range under the youth's control (Feindler, 2005)."