Violent Behavior in Children from a Violent Environment

Does the environment of violence in the family home cause violent behavior in children? Or is it the effect of violent behavior that was never corrected? The answer is yes to both. Violent behavior and abuse is often a never ending cycle. Children from abusive homes often exhibit violent behavior and when this behavior is unchecked, they may become abusers themselves.

Johnny hovered under the kitchen table as food and dishes crashed around him. Daddy didn't like the food Mommy cooked for dinner so he threw the plates in the floor and hit Mommy. The next day at school a girl in his class took Johnny's red crayon so he hit her and told her she was stupid. Johnny didn't understand why he got in trouble with the teacher, he saw his dad hit his mom and it was okay. Many years later when Johnny was much older his wife never did anything right. He often hit her and told her she was stupid when she didn't please him. Johnny's young son huddled in the corner and watched Daddy hit Mommy.

Although the preceding example may be a bit over simplified, it is a common theme in the lives of many children. Living in a violent home is not the only cause for violent behavior in children, but it is a prevalent one. Children learn by observation and imitation. If violence is a common occurrence in a child's daily life it is natural that violence becomes a part of his or her own behavior. Children witness abuse at home may use violent behavior to express frustration and anger because they do not know any other way to express these feelings.

"Children from five or six to eleven see their parents as significant role models, and are watching their parents as they start to develop beliefs about how relationships should be. Children in violent homes learn that it is okay to be abusive and violent in relationships and to express their feelings by degrading and hurting others." (Leavy 17)

Violent behavior in children brought on by an abusive home life can affect everyone the child comes into contact with and society as a whole. In the classroom teachers and other students are frequently affected by the behavior of violent children. A child who exhibits violent behavior may disrupt class, hit the teacher or other students, or yell, scream, or call names when they are upset. However, the most affected by the violent behavior is the child. If children are not taught how to deal with or change their violent behavior a violent child will become a violent adult. Once this happens, the cycle begins all over again and the result is a society with a pattern of violence in homes.

No race, religion, income or educational level is safe from family violence. It occurs in "about 60% of all intimate relationships". Children who witness violence at home are more likely to become abusers as adults than children who grow up in non-violent homes. 75% of abusers were victims of family violence as children. Hoping the violence will end does not work. Something, such as counseling, police intervention, or other measures, must be done in order to end violent behavior. (Craig and Dowiatt 19)

In the previously mentioned example of Johnny, the actions of one person caused actions and behaviors that affected many others. The violence Johnny witnessed at the hands of his father caused Johnny to express his feelings with violence which affected his teachers, his classmates, and later his own family. As a result, Johnny's own son may develop violent behavior, and the cycle of violence will continue. Although Johnny and his family are fictional characters, the situations they found themselves in are all too real to many children. Violence can become a vicious circle. In the case of violent behavior in children sometimes the cause is also the effect.

Works Cited
Craig, Sabrina and Dowiatt, Sally. We Can't Play at My House. Children and Family Violence Book II: Handbook for Teachers. Boulder: Boulder County Safehouse, 1990.
Leavy, Julianne. The Innocent Victims: A Handbook for Parents and Caregivers of Children Exposed to Domestic Violence. 2003.