325_Lecture_5a

Adolescent Perpetrators of Family Violence

Overview of Adolescent Perpetration

• Examines the factors leading to adolescent family violence.

• Focus includes the role of the family and environmental influences.

Theoretical Approaches

Family Systems Theory

• Concepts:

  • Family dynamics, boundaries, power and intimacy, and warmth.

  • Importance of organization, negotiating skills, and value systems.

• Explains the likelihood of adolescent violence in families.

Ineffective Parenting

• Characteristics that may lead to violence in adolescents:

  • Low levels of parent-child involvement.

  • Lack of parental supervision or monitoring.

  • Inconsistent discipline.

  • Coercive parenting.

• These parenting styles may foster a pathway to violence.

Effects of Living in an Abusive Household

• Considerations include:

  • Direct experience of abuse or witnessing abuse.

  • Importance of understanding the intergenerational cycle of violence.

• Adolescents learn violence as a means to cope with frustration and anger.

• Many abused children (approximately 66%) do not become abusers, indicating other variables at play.

Global Self-Esteem Theory

• Emphasizes resilience and turning points in an abused child's life.

• Turning points are critical in establishing new, positive self-concepts.

• Resilience can mitigate the effects of past abuse, but multiple factors determine outcomes.

Factors Influencing Future Perpetration

• Various characteristics influence whether an abused child becomes an abuser:

  • Demographic characteristics (e.g., age, gender).

  • Personality traits and individual behavior patterns.

  • Variety and severity of abuse endured.

  • Relationships with abusers and other dynamics within the household.

• Refers to further details available on page 116 of textbooks.

Types of Trauma and Abuse

Types of Trauma

• Type 1 (Acute Trauma): Single, isolated incidents.

• Type 2 (Chronic Trauma): Ongoing, repetitive exposure to trauma.

• Chronic trauma is often more closely associated with future abusive behavior.

Effects of Abuse

• All types of abuse (sexual, physical, emotional) can have long-term negative effects.

• Concurrent exposure to multiple types of abuse exacerbates risks of future violence.

• The combination of severe physical abuse and harsh parenting significantly increases these risks.

Importance of Relationships

• Supportive relationships outside the abusive environment can be protective factors.

• Relationships can greatly influence resiliency and coping mechanisms in a child.

Red Flags Indicating Potential for Violence

• Fire Setting: Linked with juvenile abuse victimization.

• Animal Cruelty: Often a pattern that begins with smaller animals and escalates.

  • Indicates deeper issues of frustration and potential for human violence.

Characteristics of Households with Adolescent Violence

• Houses with inefficient supervision or favoritism are at higher risk for violence.

• Male-dominated households may also be a factor in escalating violence.

Types of Adolescent Violence

Physical Violence

• Common targets are siblings and occasionally parents.

• Offenders often exhibit characteristics like being male and larger than their peers.

• Matricide: Murder of one's mother; Patricide: Murder of one's father; Double Parricide: Murder of both parents.

Sexual Violence

• Typically begins with younger siblings and can escalate to peers or adults.

• Offender characteristics include male, depression, anxiety, and lack of confidence.

Emotional Abuse

• Characterized by constant contempt and degradation, typically directed at siblings.

• Parents may overlook emotional abuse as 'normal' teenage behavior.

• Can lead to serious issues like conduct disorders, eating disorders, and depression.

Conclusion

• Importance of recognizing signs of potential adolescent violence early to implement intervention strategies.

• Encourages students to explore their textbooks for further detail on contributing factors and household dynamics.