NCJ Number
139512
Date Published
1989
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Many experts agree that aggression and violence are on the rise in the United States and that many children learn these behaviors at home in response to social and economic changes in traditional roles and family relationships and values.
Abstract
Estimates indicate that over 50 percent of all marriages will end in divorce and that 25 percent of America's 60 million children live in single-parent homes. Further, domestic violence is on the rise, with almost 2 million cases of battered women and 2 million cases of child abuse and neglect reported each year. Physical assault as become prevalent in cities, neighborhoods, and schools. Television, movies, and cartoons portray physical and verbal conflict, while rock music contains hostile and violent themes. The question-and-answer format of the booklet specifically looks at physical and verbal aggression, how children learn aggression and violence, how maturity affects aggression and violence, assertiveness, potentially negative effects of being passive, anger, the fact that boys are more likely to be aggressive and violent than girls, youth gangs, television violence, social attitudes, family violence, physical punishment, and how parents can prevent or reduce aggressive and violent behaviors in their children. Attention is also paid to stages of aggression and violence, warning signs of aggression in children, family conditions associated with aggressive and violent youth, and agencies and professionals to contact for help.