Why are adolescents violent?

Cien Saude Colet. 2009 Mar-Apr;14(2):533-8. doi: 10.1590/s1413-81232009000200021.

Abstract

This article discusses how adolescents become violent from the perspective of human development, in which the process of formation of the child and the youth depends on diverse biological, psychological e social variables that constitute the context of life of these individuals. The ecological perspective of human development opposes simple cause-effect relations between antisocial adversities and behaviors and believes that factors such as gender, temperament, cognitive ability, age, family, social environment and culture combine in a complex way influencing the behavior of the child and the adolescent. Some conclusions point to the fact that violence in adolescence usually starts from a combination of early difficulties in relationships associated with a combination of temperamental difficulties. It is concluded that the young seem to be as bad as the social environment surrounding them.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Humans
  • Psychology, Adolescent*
  • Violence / psychology*