What's Behind Growing Trends of Violence?

News reports across the country reflect a growing trend among America's children--a willingness to commit violent acts. Teenagers and even younger kids are the perpetrators of an increasing number of vicious crimes, including incidents in which parents, classmates, and teachers have been murdered. The rest of the population find themselves shaking their heads and wondering, "What went wrong?"

"Growing up in America is risky business today," maintains Hill M. Walker, professor of special education, University of Oregon, Eugene, and co-director of the San Diego (Calif.) Center for Children's Tom and Julie Arnold Institute for Developmental Research. "It seems we've lost the ability to safely and effectively raise our children."

"There are a number of causes for violent behavior," indicates Steven Forness, inpatient school principal at the University of California, Los Angeles, Neuropsychiatric Hospital. "In some cases, you are actually dealing with undetected or untreated psychiatric disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or depression, which can be treated medicinally. On the other hand, conduct or oppositional disorders are more difficult to treat. These disorders relate to how the children were raised and require psychosocial treatment approaches, such as behavior modification and social skills training. Oftentimes, the children can fall right back into their old behaviors when the treatment is discontinued."

According to Mark Shipman, who spent 30 years as medical director at the San Diego Center for Children, working directly with troubled youngsters, "It's not a complicated problem. Children's violent behavior points to the underlying emotions that cause such behavior. It's amazing how little you have to scratch the surface to find out what's going on. You just have to pay attention to what they're telling you." Warning signs such as frequent kicking, hitting, or spitting in preschoolers and kindergartners can spell trouble for youngsters whose levels of...