-
Essay / Attachment theory and its effects on violence
Infant attachment helps develop many aspects that influence behavior later in life. In many circumstances, attachment trauma can make people more vulnerable to additional trauma, including violence, later in life. Gang violence is a very common phenomenon that affects a large number of people. Exposure to this type of lifestyle and violence can be very harmful to children and young adults, especially later in life. A literature review will be conducted to determine the historical circumstances surrounding gang violence. As well as the relevant effects of attachment and violence on the development and achievement of children and young adults. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayAttachment is an innate system in the brain that evolves to influence and organize the processes of motivation, emotion, and memory regarding important figures who look after children. (Siegel, 1999). Attachment theory offers a biosocial, lifespan explanation of how close relationships form, are maintained, and develop. The theory also explains how relationships can influence the people involved in them, sometimes permanently. The first stages of attachment are established around seven months of age. Almost all infants become attached to someone. However, attachment relationships only form with a few people. These attachments are formed through social interactions between the infant and these people. They help develop specific organizational changes in infant behavior and brain functions. The human brain's ability to adapt decreases with age. The brain is better able to adapt to a wide range of environments and interactions early in life. At an infant's brain level, attachment allows the infant's immature brain to use the mature functions of the parent's brain to organize its own understanding. However, as the brain becomes more mature and developed, it is less able to adapt to new challenges. The idea of fundamental propositions suggests that experiencing relationships earlier in life creates internal working models and attachment styles that affect later attachment relationships. The internal working model creates the basis for the infant's personality, expectations of self, others, and relationships between self and others. By receiving care, infants learn what care they can expect. This model determines what information is taken into account, what memories are recalled, and what behavior should be displayed. This model develops an infant's expectations regarding his or her own and others' behavior, attractiveness and value, emotional availability to others, and ability to provide protection. Additionally, adult caregivers' attachment adaptations influence the attachment bond their children have with them. Although working patterns and attachment orientations are relatively stable over time, they can change with new relationships. Fundamentally, attachment influences complex functions that then influence interactions with the world and community. Throughout their lives, when people seek emotional intimacy or experience distress, they will behave in socially attractive ways, send distress signals intended to draw attention or concern to themselves orwill actively seek out specific people for things they think a close relationship should provide. These behaviors are usually established from attachment relationships at a young age. This is why attachment has been linked to negative social interactions. There are many examples of the benefits of secure attachment. For example, studies report the positive impacts of attachment on executive function, empathy, social communication skills, self-control, emotional and behavioral regulation, sociability, cognitive abilities, compliance with parents, comfort, reduction of anxiety and fear, executive functions, stress responses. , higher self-esteem, reduced depression, healthier stress responses, and improved relationships with peers. Attachment breakdown may be correlated with behavioral problems such as delinquency. Disturbed attachment has also been used as an indicator of aggression, antisocial behavior, externalizing delinquency, serious deviance, and violence (Savage, 2014). Without safe and healthy early relationships, the brain does not form as it should. This can lead to distinctions in learning and behavior. Important risk factors for attachment breakdown include: emotional and physical neglect, physical or sexual abuse, separation or changes from primary caregiver, traumatic experiences such as the death of a parent or catastrophe, maternal depression, maternal drug or alcohol use, undiagnosed, isolate painful illnesses such as colic or ear infections. Attachment trauma is a disruption in a child's ability to form strong bonds with their caregivers. Attachment trauma can influence developmental, social, psychological, and behavioral problems in children that can persist into adolescence and adulthood. Disrupted attachment can cause toxic stress in children. Toxic stress is a strong and prolonged activation of the body's stress management systems. Toxic stress is primarily harmful during severe periods of development. For example, toxic stress impairs brain development. This can lead to lifelong complications in learning, behavior, and physical and mental health. Disturbed attachment may be correlated with behavioral problems such as delinquency. Disturbed attachment has also been used as an indicator of aggression, antisocial behavior, externalizing delinquency, serious deviance, and violence (Savage, 2014). There are numerous links showing that extreme attachment issues can influence physical aggression and violent behavior. As mentioned previously, infants develop trust when they realize that their parents or caregivers are responsive to their attempts to seek care. Lack of response from the caregiver results in a lack of confidence in the infant, which can lead to a functioning relationship pattern characterized by disappointment, anger, chaos, and insecurity. Research suggests that most people refrain from participating in malicious behavior because they understand its effects on others. We are able to consciously identify with the feelings that our actions will provoke in others. Children who are unable to understand mental states lack the ability to understand their own emotions. Additionally, they are sometimes more willing to ignore how their actions will affect others and lackof empathy. Studies have shown that children with secure attachment have “better emotional understanding” than children with insecure attachment. This lack of empathy is a common characteristic of serious violent offenders. (Thompson, 2008). A study was carried out to demonstrate this. In this study, the authors compared the attachment representations of offenders from two groups: those who committed crimes against property and those who committed violent crimes. Group members who committed violent crimes described "extremely disrupted attachment representations, often accompanied by a history of abuse." They were also unable to demonstrate any ability to understand the mental states or emotions of others (Saltaris, 2002). According to several studies, peer rejection is another experience linked to aggression and violent behavior. Successful peer relationships in childhood arise from secure attachment. Insecure attachments are correlated with peer rejection and antisocial behavior. One specific study showed that associations between peer relationships and early attachment strengthen as children grow (Thompson, 2008). Another characteristic that influences behavior is emotionality. In addition, emotionality influences violent behavior. Positive and responsive care promotes positive emotionality. Negligence and ignorance promote negative emotionality which creates frustration, sadness, anger and depression. Emotion is very important in early attachment. For example, insensitive parenting can lead to anger in an infant that may be directed toward others (Cassidy, 2008). Gangs and gang violence are a preventable cause of death and injury in the United States. The National Gang Center has defined a gang as “a group of three or more members, usually between the ages of 12 and 24.” Members share an identity, usually linked to a name, and often other symbols. Members consider themselves a gang and are recognized by others as such. The group has a certain permanence and a certain degree of organization. The group is involved in a high level of criminal activity. (Jennings-Bey & Lane et. al, 2015). In 2003, it was estimated that approximately 30,000 gangs in the United States met this criterion, including approximately 850,000 individual members. Most individuals enter gangs as teenagers and cycle through different gangs throughout their lives. Risk factors for gang membership include: exposure to violence, financial difficulties, coming from families living below the poverty line or single-parent households, feeling unsafe at home 'school. Additionally, there are risk factors specific to men that make them more vulnerable to gang activities such as family dysfunction or conflict (Quin & Pacella et. al, 2017). The associations between trauma and delinquency are complementary. Trauma increases the risk of delinquent behavior and gang involvement. On the other hand, involvement in antisocial behavior increases the risk of further trauma and exposure to violence. Violent experiences are linked to mental health problems among gang members. This is relevant because of the high levels of violence they are normally exposed to. These are often young people with histories of victimization such as depression and substance abuse. Gang members experience higher rates of victimization than non-gang-involved youth. Some young people have turned to joining gangs to seekprotection. However, gang membership has not been shown to actually reduce these rates. On the contrary, the opposite is happening. Increased exposure to violence is correlated with even worse mental health status among young gang members. Mental illnesses commonly develop, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Polyvictimization is defined as “cumulative trauma and ongoing exposure to violence or stressful events” (Finkelhor, Ormrod, & Turner, 2009). When exposed to more than one risk factor, children have worsened mental health problems, such as depression, substance abuse, and risk of joining a gang. Polyvictimized young adults are more likely to develop mental health problems such as PTSD, depression, and substance abuse. For polyvictimized youth, “traditional conceptualizations of traumatic events and exposure to violence may be normalized” (Finkelhor, Ormrod, & Turner, 2009). Their traumas are characterized differently due to their desensitization following various and prolonged exposures. However, negative consequences still have effects on them. Their reactivity helps them defend themselves against immediate emotional and psychological afflictions, while intensifying their propensity for violence and aggressive behavior. On the other hand, young adults who fear violence often attempt to alleviate their concerns by identifying and forming relationships with “delinquent or gang-involved peers” (Quin and Pacella et. al, 2017). Youth who report fear of harm or violence may attempt to alleviate their anxiety by identifying with their delinquent peers, which often leads to gang membership (Quin and Pacella et. al, 2017). Individuals in communities facing gang-related attacks or murders undergo physical experiences. and emotional harm which includes emotional and physical symptoms. Since most murders take place in locations controlled by gangs, it is common for many members of these communities to personally know many victims of violence. This obviously causes them serious physical or emotional harm in response to these killings. For many, it involves a lot of grief over death and loss, as well as reflection on the event and the criminal, a sense of hopelessness to prevent another murder, secondary trauma, and doubt or inability to control when further violence will recur. The people affected are not just experiencing normal grief. They increased their emotional reactions to these deaths due to the extreme nature of the violent incidents. This means that traditional grief therapy may not be very helpful in specifically relieving their harmful suffering (Jennings-Bey & Lane et. al, 2015). This argument can be used to promote the idea of therapy tailored to gang-related trauma. This is important for those who are directly involved in gang activities. However, it could also be effective in helping community and family members who are living in a gang or who know someone affected or involved. Gangs have demonstrated acts of revenge for previous acts as part of their culture for centuries. For example, in Scotland in the 18th century, in Sicily in the 20th century, in Bosnia and Lebanon and the Congo in the 21st century. Many murders committed in the past and in cross-cultural contexts establish revenge for previous acts of violence. "Roger Gould demonstrated and demonstrated that the murder of a social equal such as a member.