CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of study

The prevalence of aggressive conduct among children is a major source of concern. Parents, teachers, and other adults must carefully understand this complex and serious topic. Violent behavior can be seen in children as early as preschoolers. Parents and adults who observe the behavior may be concerned, but they frequently hope that the youngster will outgrow it. At any age, violent behavior by a child must be handled seriously. It's important not to disregard it as a phase they're going through. Children have access to and consume a wide range of media, many of which are violent.The majority of homes have television sets, and adolescent television viewing is the second most common activity after sleeping. According to Lomonaco, Kim, and Ottaviano (2010), the average American child spends four hours per day watching television. Nigeria's scenario is not much different. The majority of youngsters aged 5 to 20 spend more than 6 hours a day watching television, commercial and self-produced videos, movies, video games, newspapers, radio, recorded music, computers, and the internet (Roberts, Foctir and Rideout, 2005). Watching Nigerian films (Africa Magic), the majority of which feature a high level of violence, has recently become a popular pastime among many young people. The inference is that by the time a youngster reaches the age of 18, he or she will have observed numerous acts of violence, including killings. According to Beresin (2009), children's programs might have up to 20 acts of violence every hour. Violence in children is linked to a high level of violent content in the media. The presence of violence on the internet (killings, shootings, fights, etc.) is associated with a 50 percent rise in reports of significantly aggressive behavior (Lomonaco et al, 2010). Desensitization to violent video games is the outcome of violent media programs and desensitization to violent video games (Caragey, Cray and Bushman, 2007). Bedrooms are frequently equipped with televisions. The presence of a television in a child's bedroom has the impact of increasing their television viewing time. It may also mean that parents will be less likely to monitor what is seen and will be unable to establish a consistent media usage schedule. Additionally, such children may engage in fewer other activities such as reading, athletics, and gaming. Even in programs that aren't advertised as violent, there is typically a lot of violence. Weapons appear on prime time television roughly nine times every hour on average. Children's shows are more likely to mix violence and humor, and they are less likely to depict the long-term effects of violence. While violence is not inherent to the human race, it is becoming more prevalent in modern society. The scope and efficiency of violent behavior has major ramifications as firearms and explosives become more widely available. To understand the scope of this frightening trend, we must consider recent school shootings and the rising prevalence of young killings among urban children. While there are many factors that contribute to violence in children, including poverty, family psychopathology, child abuse, exposure to domestic and community violence, substance abuse, and other psychiatric disorders, the research literature suggests that adolescent media violence plays a significant role in the etiology of violent behavior. While it's difficult to say which children who have been exposed to violence are the most vulnerable, there appears to be a substantial link between violence and aggressive conduct among fragile and at-risk youngsters.

Statement of problem

Early learning experiences in the home might lead to violence. They include: 1) a lack of family connection, inefficient monitoring, and supervision; 2) exposure to and reinforcement of domestic violence; and 3) the development of expectations, attitudes, beliefs, and emotional responses that support or tolerate the use of violence. Early exposure to familial violence might take the form of witnessing violence or physical assault. According to research, these types of childhood exposure to violence increase the likelihood of violent behavior in adolescents by up to 40%.Even so, the majority of children who are physically abused do not go on to become significant violent offenders. While real-life violence and physical abuse by family members have stronger modeling effects, frequent television exposure to violence is also causally associated with subsequent violence. Even if violence is not modeled at home, research suggests that the lack of effective social relationships and restraints, combined with parents' failure to teach (and children to internalize) traditional norms and values, puts children at risk of eventual violence.violence in children is linked to a high level of violent content in the media. The presence of violence on the internet (killings, shootings, fights, etc.) is associated with a 50 percent rise in reports of significantly aggressive behavior (Lomonaco et al, 2010). Desensitization to violent video games is the outcome of violent media programs and desensitization to violent video games (Caragey, Cray and Bushman, 2007). Bedrooms are frequently equipped with televisions. The presence of a television in a child's bedroom has the impact of increasing their television viewing time. It may also mean that parents will be less likely to monitor what is seen and will be unable to establish a consistent media usage schedule. Additionally, such children may engage in fewer other activities such as reading, athletics, and gaming. Even in programs that aren't advertised as violent, there is typically a lot of violence. Weapons appear on prime time television roughly nine times every hour on average. Adolescent shows are more likely to mix violence and humor, and they are less likely to depict the long-term effects of violence. While violence is not inherent to the human race, it is becoming more prevalent in modern society. The scope and efficiency of violent behavior has major ramifications as firearms and explosives become more widely available.

Objective of study

The following are primary objectives of this study

1. To examine the causes of violent behaviour among children in Benue state

2. To investigate the effect of violent behaviour among children in Benue state

3. To offer solution to violent behaviour among children in Benue state

Research question

1. What are the causes of violent behaviour among children in Benue state?

2. What are the consequences of violent behaviour among children’s in Benue state?

3. What are the possible solution to violent behaviour among children in Benue state?

Significance of study

This study will be of significant to parents and guardians as the monitor the activities of children and curtail the things the watch on tv. This study will also be of importance to students and scholars who will want to carry out further study on this research

Scope of study

The study aims to examine violent behaviours among children in Benue state. This study will focus on children in Gboko local government of Benue state

Limitation of study

Finance,inadequate materials and time constraint were the challenges the researchers encountered during the course of the study

Definition of terms

Violent behaviour: Violent behaviour is any behaviour by an individual that threatens or actually harms or injures the individual or others or destroys property.

Child: A child is a person between birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty.

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