Anger Management And The Bad Seed

The increased instances of poor anger management or a lack of impulse control, which is a direct cause of poor anger management, and children committing horrendous crimes such as murdering other children, committing school shootings, and killing their parents, have led some people to wonder if  some children just born bad.  Are there really bad seeds, or are these children a product of nurture or nature, or a combination of both? 


There is some evidence that excessive stress during the pregnancy can cause a higher level of testosterone in hormonal bathing that leads to a child who is chemically more prone to anger and hostility, there may be organic brain dysfunctional causes that precipitate children toward such aggressive, angry, and destructive behavior.  Another possible reason for these tendencies could be severe physical abuse leading to damage of the frontal lobes of the child's developing brain, which is the area helping control impulses and reactions.
Children, who experience family aggression, or those whose needs are neglected by their parents, grow up angry, thinking that no one cares about them.  Excessive stress in their early lives may cause changes in brain their chemistry.  These neglected and abused children grow up seeing others as objects to be used. Their lack of early socialization skills and bonding make them into uncaring adults who feel justified in hurting others. They see the aggressor in the home as holding all the power and they crave that power for themselves, so they become aggressive and feel no remorse over forcing their will on others.

Children and teenagers can be violent, and even deadly.  Some young people turn to violence, because they do not see other ways to endure what they’re feeling at that moment. They may not understand the consequences of violent behavior. 

These tips may help when you recognize a child who is withdrawing or exploding over everyday frustrations:                                                           
•    Show confidence in his or her ability to develop good anger management skills, and model positive behaviors.
•    Tell your child that everyone experiences anger, talk about the last time you felt really angry, and share the positive ways of handling their anger.
•    Encourage the child to walk away from their stressors, and spend some time doing things he or she really likes to do, like sports, walking the dog, reading a book, etc.  A change of scenery or activity can provide distraction from the source of the anger.
•    Teach basic problem solving skills and anger management.  When upsetting things happen, the child who has practiced these skills will be more likely to think through the consequences and ultimately be better able to make choices other than violence.
•    Look at your own anger management skills.  Are you teaching good skills for children to model? 

If none of these approaches work, seek help. Talk to a doctor or pediatrician. You may decide that your child and family need help from someone with more mental health training to learn positive to deal with anger management issues.