Aggression is a behavior directed at harming or injuring someone directly or indirectly. Direct ways can include physical aggression, assault, verbal assault, and indirect ways can include spreading rumours, or relational aggression-harming one’s social status, gossiping, alienating someone etc. Adolescents often engage in bullying, throwing temper tantrums, using weapons, physical fighting, vandalism, cruelty towards animals etc. Recent research has documented the increasing aggression levels among adolescents in India (Sidhu et al., 2019).
Physical or direct forms of aggression are more detectable, and likely to be punished by authorities. But social forms of aggression aren’t. Both these forms of aggression follow a curvilinear trajectory in its development. Physical aggression peaks around age 15, and social aggression around age 14. Boys are more likely to engage in physical aggression than girls, while for social aggression there is no gender difference found (Karriker-Jaffe et al, 2008).
Due to the rising cases of adolescent aggression, it is necessary to understand its risk factors, protective factors, warning signs and consequences. This awareness can lead us into understanding ways to prevent, and deal with aggression.
Exposure to previous violence, aggression or abuse, family discord, poor family environment, disrupted family relations, adverse childhood experiences, exposure to violence/aggression on media, games, peer pressure, socioeconomic factors (poverty, lack of social support, unemployment) etc., are some of its risk factors (AACAP, n.d.). These can be reflected through traits like short temperedness, irritability, impulsivity and restlessness in adolescents.
On understanding its risk factors, it is clear that a positive family and school environment, supportive peer groups, and deconstruction of gender stereotypes will act as protective factors for adolescence aggression (Lopez et al., 2008).
If not dealt with adolescent aggression at the right time, it can result in dire consequences like-disrupted relationships, responsibilities, self-harm, addiction, academic difficulties, drop outs, low self esteem etc.
Prevention and intervention at all three levels-primary, secondary and tertiary is required to deal with adolescent aggression. There are various ways to inform and update children, parents, teachers, families and schools, on ways to prevent adolescent aggressiveness and its consequences. Some of these include teaching children relaxation techniques, using role-plays, reinforcements, token economy system etc. To know more about the same, contact us to avail our evidence-based module on managing adolescent aggression for free.
References
AACAP Sign In. (n.d.). American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Retrieved April 14, 2021, from https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Understanding-Violent-Behavior-In-Children-and-Adolescents-055.aspx#:~:text=Numerous%20research%20studies%20have%20concluded,behavior%20in%20children%20and%20adolescents.&text=Exposure%20to%20violence%20in%20the,Genetic%20(family%20heredity)%20factors
Charlesworth, J. R. (2008). Helping Adolescents Manage Anger. American Counseling Association. https://www.counseling.org/resources/library/ACA%20Digests/ACAPCD-22.pdf
Houston, J. (2009). Effects of Violence on Youth’s Perception of Peer and Sibling Aggression (Masters Thesis). Marquette University. Retrieved from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/67758589.pdf
Karriker-Jaffe, K.J., Foshee, V.A., Ennett, S.T. & Suchindran, C. (2008). The Development of Aggression During Adolescence: Sex Differences in Trajectories of Physical and Social Aggression Among Youth in Rural Areas. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 36(1227). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-008-9245-5
Lopez, E.E., Perez, S.M., Ochoa, G.M., & Ruiz, D.M. (2008). Adolescent aggression: Effects of gender and family and school environments. Journal of Adolescence, 31, 433-450.
Sidhu, T. K., Kaur, P., Sangha, N. K., & Bansal, A. S. (2019). Aggression among adolescents – A cross-sectional study. Adesh University Journal of Medical Sciences & Research, 1, 21–26. https://doi.org/10.25259/aujmsr_3_2019
Metamorphosis 