NCJ Number
48768
Date Published
1977
Length
38 pages
Annotation
THE POSSIBILITY THAT PERSONS WHO COMMIT VIOLENT CRIMES ARE MERELY REPEATING THAT WHICH WAS DONE TO THEM WHEN THEY WERE CHILDREN IS DISCUSSED IN TESTIMONY BEFORE A COMMITTEE OF THE CANADIAN SENATE.
Abstract
IT IS POINTED OUT THAT, ALTHOUGH SUCH THINGS AS PRENATAL INJURIES, BIRTH INJURIES, DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING DISABILITIES, TOXINS, TUMORS, AND VARIOUS DEFICIENCIES CAN LEAD PEOPLE TO COMMIT VIOLENT ACTS, THESE THINGS DO NOT NECESSARILY LEAD TO CRIMINAL ACTS. MANY PEOPLE SUFFERING THESE CONDITIONS DO NOT COMMIT CRIMES; MANY WHO DO COMMIT CRIMES APPARENTLY ARE BIOLOGICALLY INTACT AND COME FROM SOCIALLY FAVORABLE BACKGROUNDS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT MOST OF THE VIOLENCE THAT DEVELOPS IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO BECOME MISCREANTS -- THIEVES, BULLIES, RAPISTS, MURDERERS -- CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR THESE PEOPLE EXPERIENCED AS CHILDREN. THE CHILD WHO IS BEATEN ALMOST INEVITABLY PURSUES AS AN ADULT THE ROLE OF THE ONE WHO IS BEATEN OR THE ONE WHO BEATS. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT KNOWN HOW TO PREDICT WHICH CHILD WILL SHOW VIOLENT BEHAVIOR AS AN ADULT. THE NEED FOR CLINICIANS WHO DEAL WITH CHILDREN AND ADULTS AT RISK (I.E., THOSE WHO ACT VIOLENTLY) TO BECOME INVOLVED IN RESEARCH IN THE PREDICTION OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IS NOTED. THE FOLLOWING TOPICS ARE AMONG THOSE TOUCHED UPON IN A QUESTION-AND-ANSWER EXCHANGE BETWEEN COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND THE WITNESS: DISTURBANCES IN APPARENTLY NORMAL FAMILIES; DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE; VULNERABILITY OF PREMATURELY BORN CHILDREN TO ABUSE; VIOLENCE AS PLEASURE-SEEKING BEHAVIOR; HUNTING AND AGGRESSION; EFFECTS OF DAYCARE CENTERS ON CHILDREN; THE INTERRELATIONSHIP OF BIOLOGICAL PROBLEMS (E.G., BRAIN DAMAGE) IN THE CHILD AND NEGLECT BY PARENTS; EARLY DETECTION OF PSYCHOPATHIC TENDENCIES; AND RESEARCH NEEDS. --IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH. (LKM)