There are innumerable theories and risk factors that are possible causes for aggressive behavior in
adolescents. While it is impossible to pinpoint the cause of aggression, there are many risk factors
that can make a child prone to violence and aggressive behavior. Some factors involving young children
may be the most detrimental to their development as young adults.
Here we will look at three very prevalent risk factors - biochemical levels, media influence, and parental and familial situations - which may set the stage for violent behavior in adolescents causing a possible attraction towards other known risk factors such as drug abuse, peer pressure, and gang involvement.
Biochemical Influences on Juvenile Aggression
Are males more aggressive than females? Many analysts are reluctant to answer this question with a
blunt answer, but "Elanor Maccoby and Carol Jacklin (1974) demonstrated that boys appear to be more
aggressive than 
girls" in a research survey on children (Aronson, p.381). One possible cause
for this noticeable difference deals with testosterone, a male sex hormone associated with aggression.
One study showed that the testosterone levels among criminals convicted of violent crimes are higher
than the testosterone levels among criminals convicted of nonviolent crimes (Dabbs, Carr, Frady, &
Riad 1995; Aronson, p.380)
Another factor is the serotonin levels that occur in the midbrain. Serotonin, a chemical that may aid in inhibiting aggressive behavior, has been found to be lower in violent criminals than in nonviolent criminals (Davidson, Putnam, & Larson, 2000).
While the levels of these two chemicals may explain the phenomenal difference in aggression between males and females, it is still unknown if there are other causes due to the complexity of the human body. However, there are countless studies proving the powerful influence of testosterone and serotonin levels in humans.
Media Influence on Juvenile Aggression
How does watching violent movies or television programs and playing violent video games affect today's children? In the past ten years there has been a huge push to prohibit children from playing games such as Grand Theft Auto and watching movies and television programs with excessive violence. Would it really make a difference? It is hard to tell. Ruling out certain environmental factors dealing with aggression is impossible but the media influence on today's youth may play a vital role in teaching violence or promoting violence in children with aggressive tendencies.
Studies have shown the following: (Aronson, p.390)
- The more violence individuals viewed on TV the more violence they exhibited as adolescents and young adults (Eron, 1982, 1987; Eron, Huesmann, Lefkowitz, & Walder, 1996)
- It is possible that children who are not prone to aggressive may develop aggressive behaviors if exposed to a steady regime of violent films over an extended period of time (Leyens, Camino, Parke, & Berkowitz, 1975; Park, Berkowitz, Leyens, West, & Sebastian, 1977).
- Playing violent video games was linked with aggressive and criminal behavior in children. The relationship between the two was even closer for children who were more prone to aggressive behavior beforehand (Anderson & Dill, 2000).
Risk Factors Involving Family
A child's family life plays a large role in the development of the child and also the development of
aggressive behaviors the child may develop. Parents have a significant influence on their child
through the relationship they maintain with them. Studies have shown that parents who do not
communicate well with their children, raise children who are more likely to engage in multiple
high-risk activities such as criminal behavior, alcohol and drug abuse, and early sexual activity
(Biglan, Duncan, Ary, & Smolkowski, 1995; Cohen, Farley, Taylor, Martin, & Schuster, 2002; Ledoux,
Miller, Choquet, & Plant, 2002; Metzler, Noell, Biglan, Ary, & Smolkowski, 1994; Patterson, DeBaryshe,
& Ramsey, 1989; 
Patterson & Stouthamer-Loeber, 1984; L. Steinberg, Fletcher, & Darling, 1994).
Aggressive behavior has also been proven to increase as a child's relationship with their parent
declines (Orpinas et al., 1999). A lack of parental supervision and limitations may facilitate a
child's exposure to peer influences that encourage violence or drug abuse. Many social workers say
they have encountered adolescents who express a desire to have parents who are more involved and
committed. Contrary to what many people think, most teenagers want more interaction with their
parents. The excellent example below supports this point.
"A high school student - a smart and friendly teenager with a good relationship with his parents - was invited to a party where alcohol was served. The 'big bully' of the school threatened him by saying, 'When I drink, everyone drinks.' The student responded, 'But when you drink, you don't have to deal with my mom.' The bully was taken by surprise, paused for a moment and then responded, 'I wish I had a mom who cared.'" (Orpinas, p. 45)
Another risk factor is parental aggression. Children who observe violence between their parents learn to think that aggression is the best way to manage conflict. Parental violence towards children is even more damaging, due to the fact that it destroys the trust and respect that should exist between child and parent. Children of abusive parents are also more likely to suffer from depression and other mental health problems (Walker et al., 1999).
Overall, it is impossible to pinpoint an actual cause for violent and aggressive behavior in adolescents, but these risk factors are three very common triggers for aggressive and criminal behavior throughout a child's development and the rest of their life.
