Violent Developments

It appears that some kids are more proned to having anger issues than others. Is this simply based on the environmental conditions surrounding them or is there more behind this behavior? Studies show that some people inherit genes that alter there ability to control themselves in certain situations. An enzyme called monoamine oxydase A (MAOA) controls the supply of an important brain chemical. There are two different types of genes that you can inherit that will affect your MAOA. The first causes weak activity from the MAOA and allowing too much serotonin to enter the brain, causing you to have less control over your emotions. The other gene is one that causes intense activity of the MAOA. This leads to lower than average amounts of serotonin in the brain.

While both of these can cause chemical imbalances, they are only greatly effective based on the environemental conditions surrounding them. A test taken among 57 men and women show that people with the MAOA-light gene show characteristics of being weak in the ability to control there emotions. It was also more prevelant in the men than it was in the women. A second test was done on those with the strong-MAOA. These people experienced less intense responses to emotional input and more actively related to impulse control.

The affect that parents have on their children, who have inherited these genes, was also tested, along with how kids react regarding reward sensitivity. It was discovered that children who grew up with emotionally cold parents and a high reward sensivity, were more inclined to turn to violence, crime, and substance abuse by the time they were 21. This was a very strong pattern among the boys especially. The test was done using a card game involving gambling. The children who would exit the game early with the money they had, versus those who chose to stay and risk more, were recognized as those with a low reward sensitivity. These kids had more reslience when facing harsh parenting, as well as showing less signs of bad behavior.

Parents and kids can bring out the worst in each other, as well as peer influences. People who relate to each other in violence and distress, feed off of each other and their relationships influence each other into certain behavioral patterns. Research shows that these relationships have the greatest affect on children when they are going through major changes in life. It is suggested that programs offering parenting advice are best used when a child is facing some sort of developmental transition.

A program was designed for schools to help kids with behavioral problems, especially those involving the chemical imbalances and environmental issues that can affect the body so much. The program focused on getting the children to react to situations and hardships based on peaceful negotiating rather than violence. Schools who used the program showed a great decrease in violent behavior. Dr. Stuart W. Twemlow, who designed the program said," In the end, the goal is finding out the truth about yourself so that you can better control yourself."


My Opinion...
I thought the most interesting and vital part of this article was the final quote by Dr. Twemlow," In the end, the goal is finding out the truth about yourself so that you can better control yourself." I think that this is very prevelant in the people we see around us who struggle with there behavior and managing issues. People who are lost, don't understand there purpose, and wonder why they struggle the way they do, find it so hard to understand and take there anger out in ways that some of us can't comprehend. The mind is a very delicate thing, which we can only attempt to understand. The article had an impact on me that I didn't really expect it to have. I knew that chidren who face behavioral problems often have a mental issue or a social issue that contributes to there struggle. But it made it more aware to me how much we need God. These people are searching for a way out, and a way to be "normal", but because of the families were born into, or the mental conditions we face, it is obvious that at times God alone is the only way out of our misery.


....My Dear Brothers, to the anatomy class scattered among first and second period, greetings...this is Kyle Brechbuhler posting on Ryan Spengler's blog due to technical difficulties.