Youth violence has become one of the primary concerns for Western society. In the US, the UK, Switzerland, Germany and Austria, there is a heated debate about the causes of violence among youth, prevention programs and organized campaigns.

It is usual for children and young people to test their limits. They steal cigarettes, spray graffiti, tease classmates in the school playground and on the Internet. But how, when and why do they become robbers, rapists or even murderers? Sociologists and psychologists give possible reasons.

It is simple and at the same time evident: If a student often does not come to school, he has problems. The reasons for this can be suspect in the family, or the adolescent himself. For sociologists and psychologists, one thing is sure: the adolescent needs help.

Reasons Youth Go Towards Criminal Activity

The schools fail far too often at this point. Surveys showed that many young people have no fear of consequences for their absence. It is important to show reactions if the students show continued absenteeism. It is the only way to protect youth from other stupidities.

1.    Absenteeism

Studies show that absenteeism from educational institutions is one of three leading indicators that children and adolescents later become criminals. Those who leave school classes without the fear of consequences in the form of strict action from school or educational disadvantage commit other deeds which are outside the law.

2.    Wrong friend circle

Bad company is the second decisive reason why young people becomes criminals. They end up in the wrong circle of friends and are persuaded, to do things that they would never do on their own. The environment in secondary and special schools is mainly negative, where students receive few positive incentives and convince each other that effort is not worth it anyway.

3.    Youth and alcohol

Many of these young people feel neglected and dependent on society. The frustration about it releases into violence against others – or yourself. Because a third main reason for youth violence is drugs and alcohol. It is encouraging that adolescents drink less overall, and the number of “heavy drinkers” has decreased. Nevertheless, there is still an alarming number who lose their inhibitions on drugs.

The problem has become so severe that the online criminal justice degree and several other disciplines of the same nature have been introducing to try and control the situations.

In a nationwide survey among ninth graders, it emerged that 23 percent of youth drinks alcohol at least once a week. Overall, almost 54 percent of all adolescents reported drinking at least once in the past 30 days.

Many individual cases show what alcohol can do even to those harmless individuals. It also proves that a sheltered parental home and good schooling do not offer 100 percent protection.

4.    Alcoholic parents endanger their children

Surveys and studies suggest that kids and youth who are involved in criminal activities grow up with at least one alcohol-dependent parent. More than a third of them later become alcohol dependent themselves. The main reason is that alcoholic parents often overlook the problems of these children.

5.    Violence at home

In general, studies show that violence at home can result in increasing a child’s risk of becoming violent later on. These children have more robust approval of norms of masculinity that legitimize violence. Self-control is less developed, and they have more unsatisfactory school performance.

Youth who are involved in crimes, mostly have one thing in common, they are more often victims of parental violence. It makes them poorly integrated into the education system. Aggressive adolescents are getting younger and younger

6.    Emotional Disturbance

It is certain that offenders, especially juvenile intensive offenders – are also emotionally disturbed.

According to studies, youngsters aged 11 or 12 become conspicuous. Children confronted with the adult world at an earlier age, parents and schools are often overwhelmed. In our highly mobile society, there is often a lack of the continuity and stability that a person needs at a young age. Nowadays, fortunately, our society has also become more attentive to mental disorders.

7.    Violent computer games

The extent to which violent computer games favor aggressive behavior is also currently being discussed controversially in society and science. These games are a “risk factor” for violence: players could lose their empathy, be less able to empathize with others and therefore do not always react appropriately to their surroundings in everyday life.

Conclusion

Scientists agree that anti-violence training, prevention work at schools and generally the work of social pedagogues, psychologists and therapists play a decisive role in the fact that there are fewer and fewer violent children and youth.

Parents who are consciously raising their children to be non-violent helps with the situation. A society in which an anti-violence climate is becoming increasingly prevalent is resulting in less violence among youth.