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Thinking Through Youth Violence

by Silvia Purdie

New Zealand was shocked recently by the news that 3 young Maori teenage girls had killed a man with a hammer. It is a reality that increasing numbers of young people are committing violent crime. 4024 young people were prosecuted by the Police in 2000, mostly for attacks on property or people. This figure has doubled in the last 15 years (according to the Ministerial Taskforce on Youth Offending, April 2002). Why do young people become violent? What can the church do about it?

A report by the Office of the Commissioner for Children in 1995 described the backgrounds of the 109 children aged 10 to 13 who committed serious crimes in 1994. They were almost all boys, and 58% were Maori. The compelling finding of this study was that the vast majority (94%) of these young people came from very troubled backgrounds. They were likely to have experienced changes in caregivers, child abuse, neglect or sexual abuse, families involved in crime, and alcohol or substance abuse, and problems at school.

Young people who become violent are part of a complex web of problems, which often stretch back for several generations. This is compounded by the effects of colonisation and disadvantage for Maori people in particular.

Research into children's brain development gives us important insights into precisely how early experiences of violence and disruption leave children more likely to themselves become violent. According to Presbyterian Support Central's Wanganui Manager, Rodger Jack, "Children are much more aware of what is happening in their world than we think, and can also suffer effects more significant and long lasting than the adults around them." The brains of young children, and even foetuses, are buzzing with activity. After a few years much of this activity has slowed down, and the brain has developed some areas and closed down others. Children who feel unsafe and uncared for have high levels of adrenaline, and become 'hard-wired' in a 'fight or flight' state. This results in patterns of poor relationships, emotional responses, learning ability and self-control.

Experiencing abuse and witnessing violence are two of the 'risk factors' for youth violence. But many children from troubled homes do not go on to repeat the cycle of abuse. There is a huge interest in why some children succeed in life despite the odds. 'Protective factors' are not just the opposite of risk factors, but may be quite different things, that work to reduce the impact of disadvantage, and strengthen children's resilience to bad situations.

For instance, if young people have good relationships with their parents, or other adults, they are less likely to become violent. Even just one friendship with a caring adult can make the difference between whether a young person tips 'over the edge' into violent behaviour. Another major positive influence is a sense of belonging and participation; finding a place where they can achieve and are appreciated, and where clear standards for behaviour are kept.

So what works in practice to reduce risk and build resilience in young people? The U.S. Surgeon General recently did a large review of programmes aimed at fighting youth violence, and assessed what does and does not work.

Pushing young people into the adult justice system, or shocking them with tough prisons, did not reduce youth violence. This affirms our 'diversion' system, as well as reinforces the need for more youth detention centres in NZ.

Also, live-in experiences like 'boot camp', or wilderness adventure camps, did not rate well. This raises questions for NZ, with our big emphasis on outdoor adventure.

The U.S. review found that working with families to change the young person's environment, and training and supporting parents, especially when they first have babies, was very effective long-term. Family therapy helped people escape patterns of violence. Home visiting, that the church takes for granted, is now being rediscovered by governments as having a significant positive impact.

The other highly effective focus was teaching young people skills, especially in problem-solving, thinking skills, and getting on with other people. Parish youth groups can be very good at this, by exploring practical and moral issues, and building friendships.

Presbyterian Support has chosen to focus on early intervention as the most effective way of reducing problems such as violence in the lives of young people and their families. The Wellington Family Support Centre is piloting a programme (at Miramar School) for impulse control for 6 and 7 year olds, most of whom have come from backgrounds of domestic violence. Manager Diana Linforth-Howden described their mother-baby attachment group as "encouraging the special nurturing relationship between parent and child that assists life-long emotional health". Parenting courses "emphasise non-violent methods of managing a child's behaviour, with clear information given throughout the course on the detrimental emotional and intellectual impact on the child of domestic violence".

Ken Rae, from the Churches' Agency on Social Issues, speaks of the role of the church in working for peace, reconciliation and healing. "We can allow ourselves to be anaesthetised into passivity by the violence in our world. Or we can realistically assess the task before us, as Christians, as families, and as churches, as we respond to the World Council of Churches' challenge of the Decade to Overcome Violence."

Silvia Purdie is a member of the Wainuiomata Union Church, where her husband Chris has been the lay minister. They have 3 young boys, and many years' experience in youth and family ministry.

Resources and more information:

Overcoming Violence in Aotearoa New Zealand (an anthology of writings from a range of perspectives. Available from Epworth Bookshop)

Violence in the Family (Study kit produced by the Public Questions Committee in 1994)

Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

Thinking Through Youth Violence