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Teen Boys and Violence
Dr. James Garbarino's book, Lost Boys: Why Our Sons Turn Violent and How We Can Save Them, has been called "an impressively well-researched, and thoughtful study of why some American boys become violent, even murderous."
Following is some information from the book.
Warning Signs
Factors that contribute to child violence among boys:
- Child abuse
- Involvement with gangs
- Substance abuse
- Carrying weapons
- Previous arrests
- Neurological problems
- Difficulties at school
Violence Prevention
Factors that can save boys from a violent culture:
- Prenatal care
- Parent education
- Early intervention to handle attachment problems
- Early childhood education
- Early intervention in cases of aggressive behavior
- Violence-prevention programs in schools and the community
- Character education
- Using the positive power of peer groups
Statistics
Quantifying violence in boys' lives:
- Juvenile arrests for possession of weapons, aggravated assault, robbery, and murder rose more than 50 percent from 1987 to 1996.
- While the overall youth-homicide rate dropped in 1997, the rate among small town and rural youth increased by 38 percent.
- Children who are abused are more than 7 times likely to develop problems with aggression.
- In 1997, 28 percent of adolescent boys reported carrying a gun, knife, or club.
- In 1997, 20 percent of high-school-aged boys were in physical fights on school property.
- Child abuse and neglect rose from 14 per 100,000 in 1986, to 23 per 100,000 in 1993.
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