Prevent violence by confronting its origins
Dear Editor,
Little public attention is given to the origins of violent behavior. However, long-term studies have significant, overlooked findings. For example, an angry temperament in infants correlated with later aggression at six years of age. Another study showed that boys who were more aggressive at eight years of age were found to be more aggressive at thirty years of age.
Studies have also found that birth-related factors were associated with later violent behavior. Hospital birth has been transformed from a natural event to a medical event. Experiences for the baby could include pain, distress, trauma, and physical injury from routine medical practices. No study shows that hospital birth is safer than home birth with the competent support of a midwife. Babies sometimes smile at home births.
Problems during the birth experience have been associated with adult violence. In a study that received national attention, investigators followed over 4,000 male infants to age eighteen. They found that those infants who had experienced both birth complications and early maternal rejection were most likely to have engaged in violence when they grew up.
The first and fundamental intimate relationship between mother and infant is called attachment. This relationship provides a biological and emotional foundation for future relationships. For example, research demonstrates that securely attached infants are more curious and sociable with peers at two, three, and five years of age. The child’s self-confidence and empathy are also supported by the quality of the bond with the mother.
The mother-infant bond can be disrupted by the infant being separated from the mother, unmet biological and psychological needs, maltreatment, and trauma. Such early experiences affecting the mother-infant relationship can have long-term consequences on child development. Various common American cultural practices for infant care generally involve unmet needs. For example, cross-cultural studies show that the lack of physical affection and extended body contact with the mother in infancy can lead to later violent behavior. Infants’ defensive responses to psychologically survive from disrupted bonding with the mother include emotional numbing, resulting in later reduced empathy, as described in my book, The Empathy Evolution: Preventing Violence, Racism, Political Corruption, and Mental Illness by Creating More Caring People.
Significantly, thirty-eight percent of American pregnancies are unintended. The quality of life for children who are born from such pregnancies is ignored. Associated maternal stress and delivery complications adversely affect infants and weakens bonding with the mother. Unwanted children increase rates of child abuse and neglect. When the needs of children are not satisfied, they experience distress that leads to behavioral problems. This should be included in the debate about abortion.
Mothers do the best they can based on their personal histories. Most American mothers of infants return to work. A significant first step would be to provide national paid maternal leave policies. European countries generally provide one to three years of paid maternal leave. Other improvements would be required sex education for teenagers, better use of contraception, learning about infants and child care with empathy, and control of childbirth by women.
Ronald Goldman, PhD, is a resident of Jamaica Plain, and a psychologist, speaker, and author.