Toddlers Are More Physically Aggressive Than Adults And Become Less Aggressive As They Learn To Control Their Behaviour

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry;  Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Article Date: 16 Oct 2007 - 7:00 PST

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Research looking at the development of aggressive behaviour in toddlers, may help to prevent antisocial and even criminal behaviour in later life, scientists will say at the Royal Society - the UK national academy of science - today (Tuesday 16 October 2007).

Richard Tremblay, Professor of Paediatrics, Psychiatry, and Psychology at the University of Montréal, will present research at a scientific discussion meeting on the neurobiology of violence highlighting that young children do not learn to be aggressive, instead as they get older and their brains become more mature they become less aggressive as they learn to control their behaviour.

Children learn to regulate the use of physical aggression during the preschool years, making this time a critical period in which to intervene in order to prevent violence in later life. Those that don't learn to do so in early childhood stand a much higher chance of developing into aggressive adults.

Professor Tremblay said: "Developmental studies show that infants aged three to four years old are more physically aggressive than adults. Learning how not to be violent - which mostly takes place during the preschool years - is dependent on both genetic and environmental factors. These range from the type of parental care a child receives to whether its mother smoked when pregnant. Research has shown, for example, that nicotine affects the development of areas of a baby's brain which are responsible for emotional control.

"The early years of human development are on 'fast forward' and it is during this time period that physical aggression increases most dramatically and environment plays a very important role in the extent to which physical aggression develops or is controlled.

Professor Tremblay said: "Physical aggression in children is a major public problem. It is not only an indicator of aggression in adulthood but it also leads to other serious behavioural problems such as alcohol and drug abuse, violent crimes and continues the cycle of abusive parenting.

"Identifying the factors which stop children becoming well socialised adults should help us design preventative measures which are employed at the right time in a child's development. These should put an appropriate emphasis on the behaviour of the parents, as well as that of the child."

Furthermore, the research highlights the role that parents have in determining their children's violent behaviour. Children at highest risk of not learning to regulate physically aggressive tendencies have mothers with a history of antisocial behaviour during their school years, mothers who have children at an early age, who smoked during pregnancy and parents with a low income and troubled family relationships.

A collection of papers from the speakers at the discussion meeting on 'The neurobiology of violence: implications for prevention and treatment' will be published in a special edition of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences which is due to be published online in May 2008.

The meeting takes place on Tuesday 16 October and Wednesday 17 October 2007.

NOTES:

1. The Royal Society is an independent academy promoting the natural and applied sciences. Founded in 1660, the Society has three roles, as the UK academy of science, as a learned Society, and as a funding agency. It responds to individual demand with selection by merit, not by field. As we prepare for our 350th anniversary in 2010, we are working to achieve five strategic priorities to:

Invest in future scientific leaders and in innovation
Influence policymaking with the best scientific advice
Invigorate science and mathematics education
Increase access to the best science internationally
Inspire an interest in the joy, wonder and fulfilment of scientific discovery

Source:
Laura Dibb
The Royal Society, London