Understanding and Treating Violent Behavior (From Clinical Criminology, P 43-55, 1985, Mark H Ben-Aron et al, eds. - See NCJ-101207)

• NCJ Number: 101209
• Author(s): D J Madden
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Available in microfiche as NCJ-101207

Annotation

Persons who manifest violence or related symptomatology vary with regard to age, physical stature, socioeconomic condition, their ability to maintain relationships, and the acts they commit.

Abstract

Viloence is best viewed as a symptom of an underlying organic or mental disorder. Organic factors that may contribute to poor ego control of aggression may include alcohol intoxication, psychomotor epilepsy, brain injury, and minimal brain dysfunction. Organic defects may coexist with psychological illness. Violent individuals often are dependent, control-seeking, feel helpless and hopeless, and have problems with interpersonal relationships and sexuality. Social factors, subcultures, and stress also may shape violent behavior. Wife beating, child abuse, sexual abuse, parricide, and filicide are some of the manifestations of violence in families. Such violence may be viewed as the end result of the interaction among perpetrator personality attributes, victim characteristics, and immediate environmental stresses which act as intervening variables. 29 references.