Often
people who act violently have trouble controlling their feelings. They may have
been hurt by others. Some think that making people fear them through violence or
threats of violence will solve their problems or earn them respect. This isn't
true.
People
who behave violently lose respect. They find themselves isolated or disliked,
and they still feel angry and frustrated.
If you see these immediate warning signs, violence is a serious possibility:
·
loss of
temper on a daily basis
·
frequent
physical fighting
·
significant
vandalism or property damage
·
increase
in use of drugs or alcohol
·
increase
in risk-taking behavior
·
detailed
plans to commit acts of violence
·
announcing
threats or plans for hurting others
·
enjoying
hurting animals
·
carrying
a weapon
If you notice the following signs over a period of time, the potential for violence exists:
·
a history
of violent or aggressive behavior
·
serious
drug or alcohol use
·
gang
membership or strong desire to be in a gang
·
access to
or fascination with weapons, especially guns
·
threatening
others regularly
·
trouble
controlling feelings like anger
·
withdrawal
from friends and usual activities
·
feeling
rejected or alone
·
having
been a victim of bullying
·
poor
school performance
·
history
of discipline problems or frequent run-ins with authority
·
feeling
constantly disrespected failing to acknowledge the feelings or rights of others