If a child or adolescent turns to violence, there are usually emotions behind that behavior that they cannot explain, carry, or find a way to express. Violence is often a cry for help; but they cannot put it into words, so they express it through their behavior.
Why does a child behave this way?
Because sometimes they are emotionally overwhelmed.
Sometimes they cover their fear with anger.
Sometimes they feel excessive pressure at home or at school.
Sometimes they reenact the violence they have witnessed.
Sometimes they feel as if nobody is listening to them.
Sometimes they simply want to be “noticed.”
The main reasons are often:
- A constant atmosphere of tension and conflict
- Exclusion, bullying, or humiliation
- Inconsistency within the family
- Trauma
- Impulsivity and attention difficulties
- Intense anxiety or depression
- Excessive responsibilities placed on the child
- Authority figures being either too strict or too permissive
In cases of violent behavior, the real need is not “punishment,” but being able to sit beside the child and say, “I understand you, and we can solve this together.” A child becomes calmer when they feel understood, and begins to heal when they feel heard.
Dr Mehmet Çolak, SpecialistChild and Adolescent Psychiatrist