Born to Bully: Is Your Child 'Wired' to Harass Other Kids?
By Hugh C. McBride
Does your child have a history of acting in an aggressive or hostile manner toward other children? His bullying may be the result of a behavior disorder, low self-esteem, or feelings of personal inadequacy - or it might be a sign of an abnormal brain function.
Researchers with the University of Chicago have discovered that some adolescents who engage in aggressive and disruptive behaviors appear to be genetically "wired" to experience pleasure when they are witnessing or causing pain in others.
About the Study
According to a university news release, this conclusion was reached by studying brain patterns in 16 adolescent boys:
- Eight boys with aggressive conduct disorder were compared with eight boys who demonstrated no signs of aggression. All of the subjects were between the ages of 16 and 18.
- All 16 boys were shown video clips depicting pain being inflicted both intentionally and accidentally on a variety of individuals.
- While watching the video segments, the boys were tested with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology.
"Aggressive adolescents showed a specific and very strong activation of the amygdala and ventral striatum (an area that responds to feeling rewarded) when watching pain inflicted on others, which suggested that they enjoyed watching pain," UC psychology professor Jean Decety, who participated in the study, said in the release.
Within the control group (the eight boys who had exhibited no abnormal aggression), areas of the brain that are associated with pain and empathy were activated when the images were viewed. This finding, the UC release reported, was consistent with the results of an earlier study on empathy in children ages 7 to 12.
Interpreting the Results
During a Nov. 7 interview with Matt Lauer on NBC's The Today Show, psychiatrist Dr. Janet Taylor cautioned against inferring that bullying is solely a matter of abnormal brain function.
"Just because you're genetically pre-wired, there are other issues - environmentally and socially - that create bullies." Taylor said. "Bullying is a part of conduct disorder, and this study looked at teens who had conduct disorder, which is more than bullying - it's forced sex, it's stolen property, it's much more serious."
What the UC study does provide, Taylor said, is an opportunity to identify and isolate factors that can lead to antisocial behaviors. A greater understanding of the brains of problem children, she said, could lead to breakthrough strategies for preventing violent behavior patterns before they emerge.
"The implication of this study is that it can link brain structure and brain functioning with behavior, which can help with prevention," Taylor told Lauer. "If we can teach our kids how to read what others are feeling, perhaps we can teach them to self-regulate, or stop bullying."
Preventing Bullying
If you discover that your child is bullying or harassing other children, there are steps that you can take to end this negative behavior before any more damage occurs:
- Face the facts - When confronted with accusations (or even evidence) of a child's aggressive behavior, some parents may react with a "not my kid" response. Don't be this parent. If your child is bullying, he needs help - and if he's not, you need to get to the bottom of the rumors. Either way, denial is not an effective strategy.
- Focus on specifics - Find out exactly what your child has been doing, and address these specifics with him. It's not enough to talk about "being nicer" in general terms. You need to speak about specific unacceptable behaviors, discover the motivations for them, and strategize how to stop them.
- Set boundaries - Make it clear to your child that bullying will not be tolerated, and establish a system that includes both positive reinforcements (rewards for good behavior) and negative ones (punishments for continued aggressive behavior). Monitor his behavior closely and spend as much time with him as possible, both to keep track of what he's doing and to develop better communication between the two of you.
- Set a good example - Being aggressive or violent yourself will reinforce those behaviors in your child. Don't hit, threaten, or intimidate her. When her behavior merits punishment, make it a nonviolent type such as lost privileges.
- Consult an expert - Talk to your child's teacher, guidance counselor, or principal. These individuals can speak to you about your child's behavior, and can also offer advice about how to deal with any problems she may be having. If the bullying is severe, such as the behaviors exhibited by the subjects in the University of Chicago study, school personnel can also put you in touch with physicians or mental health experts who can help.
Bullying is a sign that something is wrong in a child's life. Addressing this behavior in a supportive and productive way gives your child the best opportunity to overcome his problems and resume his pursuit of a healthy and happy life.
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