Aggressive behavior in children

Aggressive behavior in children and behavioral alterations constitute the most frequent problem in child and adolescent mental health consultations.. This is especially significant in men, reaching rates that vary between 35-50 percent.

Without going any further, the case of a young man who stabbed his mother because the internet did not work at home. This is an especially serious case of aggressiveness due to its consequences, with milder cases being more frequent, although not necessarily less worrying.

In this sense, it is inevitable to ask whether social concern responds to a real increase in the frequency and severity of antisocial behavior. A reflection of this severity is found in aggressive behaviors in the family context.

It is surprising how soon aggressive behavior appears in children and the lack of parental tools to redirect it.. Parents say they cannot control their four- and five-year-old children while they are verbally and physically attacked.

The explanation of aggressive behavior in children is complex. It cannot be searched only in specific cause-effect relationships or individual or family factors. A broader framework must be considered. In this framework, macrosocial variables have a place, on which most prevention programs are based above all. This analysis is not simple, that is the reality. Suffice it to say that social changes have occurred in recent decades. These changes refer to values ​​and beliefs about educational styles; changes that, on the other hand, may have contributed to generating the problem.

What do we understand by childhood aggression?

The word aggressiveness derives from the Latin “agredi”, which means “to attack”.. Attacking or assaulting implies that someone is determined to impose their will on another person or object, threatening to cause or causing physical or psychological harm. In the case of children, aggression usually occurs directly, as a violent act against a person. This act of violence can be physical (kicking, pushing, pinching…).

The act of violence can also be verbal, such as insults, swearing or threats. Another form of aggression would be the one in which the child attacks the objects of people who oppose his wishes.

The development of aggression in children

Aggressive behavior and antisocial behavior are somewhat overlapping, but they are different entities. However, it is known that when aggressive behavior in children is quite stable, antisocial behavior during adolescence can be predicted.

On the other hand, there are multiple factors that influence behavior. One of these factors is found in genes. Variation in serotonin levels has been linked to aggressive behaviors. Interactions have also been found between parental maltreatment and monoamine oxidase (MAO A) levels.

In addition to genetic determinants, there are other aspects that influence children’s aggressiveness. These aspects refer, for example, to parents who try to impose a very strong discipline, recurrently using violence. Abuse of youth and children is associated with aggression and antisocial behavior. However, not all abused children victimize others when they grow up.

Likewise, there are other factors that may be associated with aggressiveness. These factors may be the age of the mother, the family’s capacity for social adjustment, alterations such as attention deficit, temperament of the child, type of relationship between parents and children, lack of family cohesion or inconsistency in discipline. and repression, among others.

The importance of the family in children’s aggressive behavior

During childhood, The family is the context that has the most influence on the child. Interactions between parents and children shape aggressive behavior, especially in terms of managing the consequences that arise from such behavior. The problem with this is that the child can generalize what he has learned about the usefulness of aggression, thinking in some way that the fact that her parents use her validates her as an instrument to achieve what she wants, even with people she loves.

It is also important type of discipline that parents exercise over their children. Aggressive behavior in children is especially favored by a combination of relaxed and undemanding discipline with hostile attitudes on the part of parents.

Those who are undemanding always do what the child wants, acceding to their demands. Apparently they give him a great margin of freedom, however when the little one does something that they dislike, their reaction is disproportionate. This lack of coherence ends up settling in some way in the child, who, disoriented, tends to imitate the disproportionate behavior of his parents when he does not like something.

Incongruence in parental behavior also influences aggressive behavior in children

Incongruence in parental behavior occurs when parents disapprove of aggression and, when it occurs, they punish it by being the aggressors.. Parents who stop aggression with means other than punishment are less likely to encourage aggressive actions in their offspring.

This incongruence can also occur when parents punish the child for hitting another and other times ignore it and do not punish it. That is, they are not giving you consistent guidelines.

Treatment of aggressive behavior in children

Treatment of aggressive behavior in children is not based solely on reducing or eliminating said behavior. Alternative behaviors must also be established and encouraged.

There are several procedures that we can use for this purpose.. Among them, the procedures to control the antecedents of aggressive behavior, the modeling of non-aggressive behavior, the reduction of aversive stimulation and the control of consequences stand out.

Besides, the parent school (teach parents the characteristics of children or techniques with which to modify their children’s behavior, for example) It is a fundamental element within a program that seeks to eliminate aggressive behavior in children.

As we have seen, aggressive behavior in children is a worrying fact that is increasing. The role of the family, especially that of parents, is crucial when addressing these behaviors. A specialized psychologist can help families with this problem a lot.

Bibliographic references

Berkl, L. (1999). Child and adolescent development. Madrid: Prentice-Hall.

Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish (2005). How to talk so your children listen to you and how to listen so your children talk to you. Medici.

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