Aggressive behaviors in children are normal and even necessary for their emotional and social development to proceed correctly.
The first pre-aggressive behaviors appear in children right after birth. Anger serves to release tension. Newborns and infants cannot yet control their emotions, but even at this early stage, they begin to form basic strategies for behavior. Excessive suppression of anger can lead to developmental disorders in their personality.
In the post-infant period, alongside anger, children also experience rage, which can vary in intensity. Around the age of 2, children can consciously exhibit difficult behaviors. They often rebel against rules and refuse to cooperate with parents. This is how they express their independence and autonomy.
In the preschool period, a child can intentionally harm someone or destroy something. They can also exhibit verbal aggression. At this stage, the child learns to name and identify their emotions, understand social norms, and ways to release anger in a manner acceptable to their environment. Parents are a significant authority for them and play a large role in reinforcing positive behaviors and correcting undesirable ones.
The most intense development of aggression occurs during the school period. It takes on various forms and motives. The role of the family in shaping the child's appropriate reactions remains significant, but the school environment poses many challenges, such as coping with stress, peer pressure, educational difficulties, and social inequalities. This is a crucial stage in developing the skills to handle strong emotions. With the support of parents and teachers, the child will acquire the appropriate tools and develop strategies that will impact their future social functioning.
Another critical stage in the development of aggressive behaviors is adolescence. Teenagers undergo rapid biological, psychological, and social changes. Brain areas responsible for impulse control and decision-making are still developing. Teenagers also experience dramatic hormonal changes. During this period, they seek their identity and fight for independence, which can lead to communication difficulties with parents or teachers. The family home continues to play a large role in acquiring social competencies. It is crucial for the environment to offer support and provide proper behavioral models.
A child's personality development can be disrupted by low self-esteem, cognitive difficulties, inappropriate role models, a difficult family situation, being a victim of violence at home or school, rejection by peers, or exposure to violence in games, movies, or social media.
It is extremely important for adults to support their children at every stage of their development, teaching them to name their emotions and ways to express them, as well as how to handle conflict situations. Most importantly, from a young age, they should provide positive behavior models, remembering that a child learns by imitation. A strong bond between family members increases the likelihood that in case of problems, the child will seek help and support from parents, thus avoiding the reinforcement of negative patterns.
Bibliography:
Ilg F. L., Ames L. B., Baker S. M., "The Psychological Development of the Child from 0 to 10 Years," Gdańsk 2006
Kowalik S., "Social Development," [in:] edited by Trempała J., "Psychology of Human Development," Warsaw 2020
Poraj G., "The Family as an Environment Stimulating Aggressive Behavior in Children at Various Stages of Development," [in:] edited by Bogdanowicz M., Lipowska M., "Family, Educational, and Psychological Determinants of Development," Kraków 2008