Various factors can provoke outbursts of aggression in a child. Fatigue, bad mood, inadequate nutrition, quarrels and conflicts in family or with friends are common causes of childhood aggressiveness. However, besides them, there are more personal, deeper reasons, because of which the child becomes aggressive. What can influence the development of such a trait?
A living example. If in the family where the child grows up, the situation is unstable, explosive and aggressive, this will affect the development of the child, his behavior. Seeing a living example of aggression in front of his eyes, the child begins to adopt this trait. However, in some cases, children's aggression can be caused by an internal desire to protect themselves from danger, from a negative microclimate in the family.
Desire to become a leader. As they grow up and gain experience, the child learns to take a leadership position, using not only radical measures for this. But in the beginning, aggression can be the main way to achieve leadership. In order to take the lead, a child may fight, insult other children or adults, intimidate, and otherwise show hostility.
Lack of attention. Very often, when children do not have enough attention from their parents or loved ones, they begin to act up, get sick or show increased aggression. Aggressive behavior, despite the threat of punishment and shame, is the key that kind of opens the door behind which attention, care and support are hidden. If a child feels unnecessary, unwanted, unloved, he will be more aggressive towards his parents.
Low self-esteem and feelings of inferiority. If a child is brought up in strict conditions, if the family lacks mutual support and affection, if the baby does not receive approval from the parents, all this affects self-acceptance and self-esteem. In situations where a child has low self-esteem, he may begin to show aggression, thereby wanting to rise in his own eyes.
Aggression as manipulation. Children are naturally great manipulators. One child will choose the position of the victim and be capricious, wanting to get what he wants. Another child will stand up in opposition, behave rudely and aggressively. For example, a child may promise to stop breaking things if his mother buys him a new toy.
Internal fears and personal complexes. Various inner fears, which parents may not even know about, can push the child to aggression. For example, once having got into an unpleasant situation, a child may decide that the best way to protect himself from negativity and other people's influence is always an attack and momentary aggression. Gradually, this idea is able to become so entrenched in the mind of the child that he will "attack" even in those situations when this is not required at all. Aggressive reaction to any comments will become a kind of protective mechanism behind which fears, complexes, unwillingness to be humiliated, unwillingness to feel physical or moral pain are hidden.
Excessive parental care. Increased attention to the child's life can cause a protest in him, which will eventually result in aggression directed primarily at the parents. If the child lacks personal space and freedom, he will try to get it all through aggression.
Increased feelings of guilt. Children who are prone to very acute feelings of guilt and shame tend to be more violent. Aggression in this case again acts as a kind of defense mechanism. At the same time, as a rule, the child's aggressive behavior is directed towards the person before whom he feels guilty. With the help of impulsive and unrestrained actions, the child tries to drown out this unpleasant sensation in himself, to replace it with new emotions.
Knowledge of the world through aggression. This reason for childish aggressiveness is more characteristic of preschoolers. A child is a very curious creature, he is looking for various ways to get to know the world around him. Aggression can be one of those paths. Young children do not realize when they are hurting someone; awareness comes only with experience. It is very important for a child to experience everything on his own; children are not inclined to believe the words of their parents completely. Hence the outbursts of aggression, which can be perceived by the child as an element of the game.
Infection effect. Sometimes the child shows aggression not at home and not towards parents, sisters, brothers. He demonstrates this trait in kindergarten, in the sports section or at school. Very often, the child's aggression in this case is not a personal desire. He may simply be infected with similar behavior from peers or older children.
