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Differing Interpretations of Roots of Violence 
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California State University, Dominguez Hills I would like to recommend a book I just found out about although it is three
years old. I probably missed it because it is written by family therapists
(I take no journals in family therapy), but I think this is a landmark book
about the origins of human violence.
The book is "Ghosts from the Nursery: Tracing the Roots of Violence" by
Robin Karr-Morse and Meredith Wiley (1997, New York: Atlantic Monthly
Press). The book appears to be heavily rooted in the scientific literature
about violence, and it combines research from numerous disciplines in a way
that brings us forward a notch in the understanding of violence.
In "Ghosts from the Nursery" the authors assert that the root of violent
behavior is in the first 33 months of life. She presents evidence that
early chemical and physical insults to the fetus' (prenatal exposure to
alcohol and drugs), infant's and toddler's minds alter their cognitive
processes enough (high prevalence of ADHD & ADD) that they are later unable
to learn about, understand and cope with life's difficulties, whether those
difficulties be the loss of social face or a habitually violent home life.
They then resort to the black and white logic of violent tactics they've
seen modeled either in their home or in the society at large.
The authors make a plea for us to become a more compassionate society that
values our babies and young children enough to promote policies focusing on
improving their welfare.
Appendix A includes a list of "Factors associated with Violent Behavior that
can be Modifies or Prevented by Early Intervention" (pp. 299-300). These
include:
Biological Factors General Factors Familial Factors Larger Environmental Factors This is the most comprehensive list of factors associated with violence that
I have seen. Another appendix lists educational approaches at numerous
levels to address these factors.
Joanie Connors
Hi Folks,
I want to thank Joanie for the review of this book. However, I would like to
raise some concerns about the book both scientifically and theoretically.
While it is rooted in the scientific literature, it is important to note that
the research in this area is correlational or quasi-experiemental. As such,
the studies lack internal validity and one can not make any sort of cause and
effect conclusions from the research. One can NOT assert that the roots of
violence are grounded in the first 33 months on the basis of such research.
I'll provide an example below.
That is not to say that poverty or exposure to intra and extra familial
violence or drugs or poor nutrition, etc. do not have an impact on the
developing child. They do and the impact is highly variable. However, we also
know that humans are remarkably resilient beings and survivors of and refugees
from all sorts of conflicts, tragedies, extreme poverty, etc. are not doomed to
poor quality lives evidenced by cognitive/psychological deficits/disorders.
Nor is there evidence that they have any sort of inherent disposition towards
violence as a result of their early experiences.
My concern about such texts is the political use of the text. The intent of
the authors:
is admirable. However, I have concern that the text will be used to argue for
the lowering of age guidelines used for arrest and sentencing. After all, if
the proclivities towards violence are set in the first three years of life and
are the result of physiological factors and changes resulting from experience
in those early years, then what is to say that a four year old who commits an
act of extreme violence should not be permanently incarcerated. While this may
sound like an alarmist and ludicrous statement to folks on this list, these
sorts of sentiments are being expressed by some in the general public and
picked up on by politicians taking the "hard line on crime".
Additionally, the argument regarding the roots of violence in the first three
years are altogether too simplistic as they exclude a multitude of factors such
as situational, historic, and cultural factors which are also involved in the
complex pattern of violent behavior. Certainly, it would make little sense to
argue for example that genocide which is composed of acts of violent behavior
by large numbers of individuals and those complicit in such acts as based on
the first three years of life.
The authors do provide a good list of factors associated with violence. And of
course, this list of factors can impact individuals at any age across the
life-span.
Linda M. Woolf, Ph.D. This exchange provides a good example of the problems in evaluating research as you decide whether to incorporate it into your policy and practice. Both of these pieces came over the Peace and Education Commission. That should allow us to presume that both authors are committed to teaching peace, and share similar values. Yet Linda Woolf sees the possibilities for misinterpretation.
Years ago, one of my most radically left students brought in some material from the radical right. We tried gently to persuade her that the materials on which she was depending were in fact reactionary. To this day she still thinks that material is radically left. She lands on her feet because her instincts are good, but she needs to connect with someone whom she trusts to share her values, and who can help her evaluate the causes she joins.
This book review exchange should be useful to you in seeing how such confusion could happen. In the days of soundbites, both sides, claim the same idealized results. But the means are very different, as are the underlying philosophies, which don't fit soundbite techniques. Read carefully, and find groups that are firmly committed to values you share, so that if there is a danger to misunderstanding, you will have trusted colleagues to bring that to your attention. One scholarly authority on that process is William A. Scott, Values and Organizations, published in the late 60s or early 70s.
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Created: March 27, 2000
Latest Update: June 10, 2008
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu
patriciaacone@yahoo.com
Ghosts from the Nursery: Tracing the Roots of Violence
by Robin Karr-Morse and Meredith Wiley (1997, New York: Atlantic Monthly
Press)
Book review from Peace and Education Committee Listserv by Joanie Connors
Prenatal (0-7 months gestation)
-Teratogens (drugs, alcohol, nicotine)
-Malnutrition
-Genetic factors
-Chronic maternal stress
-Minor physical anomalies
Perinatal (-2 months to +1 month)
-Delivery complications, birth trauma, head injury
-Prematurity
-Low birth weight
Postnatal (1-24 months)
-Accidents, head injuries
-Nutritional factors
-Low verbal IQ
-Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
-Post-traumatic stress
-Exposure to toxins
-Parental mental illness
-Criminal father
-Low maternal IQ
-Multiple breaks in caregivers; lack of consistent caregiver in early life
-Maternal rejection
-Maternal depression
-Parental substance abuse
-Child abuse
-Child neglect
-Parental discord
-Ineffective discipline
-Living below community economic norm
-Modeling of violent solutions to problems by key models
-Modeling of weapon use in community; access to weapons
-Unavailability of involved adult who teaches values, and values child
-Modeling of alcohol and drug use to deal with problems
-Violence in entertainment; television, video games, movies, music and
toys
Comments and Cautions
Comments and Cautions from Peace and Education Committee Listserv by Linda M. WoolfFrom: Joanie Connors
In "Ghosts from the Nursery" the authors assert that the root of violent
behavior is in the first 33 months of life. She presents evidence that
early chemical and physical insults to the fetus' (prenatal exposure to
alcohol and drugs), infant's and toddler's minds alter their cognitive
processes enough (high prevalence of ADHD & ADD) that they are later unable
to learn about, understand and cope with life's difficulties, whether those
difficulties be the loss of social face or a habitually violent home life.
They then resort to the black and white logic of violent tactics they've
seen modeled either in their home or in the society at large.
Example - it may indeed be true that children raised in poverty or exposed to
violence and drugs are more likely to be diagnosed as ADD or ADHD (Attention
Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). However, that
does not mean that poverty or exposure to violence/drugs causes these
disorders. There is a multitude of factors which correlate with poverty or
violence/drug exposure including overcrowded classrooms and poor family
situations. Students living in conditions of poverty are more likely to attend
poor quality, overcrowded classrooms. Students who are bored in class or not
receiving the necessary attention will act out in the classroom. These
children are more likely to be diagnosed as ADD or ADHD. Children who are in
crisis because of current conflict at home (which may have existed since birth)
and which may be the result of drugs/alcohol abuse are more likely to act out
in school and to be diagnosed as ADD or ADHD. It is easier to diagnose the
child than address the underlying institutional/familial problems.
Additionally, there certainly is a literature which questions the overuse of
these diagnostic categories. Of course, I could hypothesize till the cows come
home about any number of alternate explanations for the authors findings. The
point is that the type of studies cited exclude any sort of definitive
conclusions. They are descriptive results only - much like the body of
"evidence" regarding race and IQ.
The authors make a plea for us to become a more compassionate society that
values our babies and young children enough to promote policies focusing on
improving their welfare.
This is the most comprehensive list of factors associated with violence that I have seen. Another appendix lists educational approaches at numerouslevels to address these factors.
Associate Professor - Psychology
Director - Gerontology
Coordinator - Holocaust & Genocide Studies,
Center for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights
Webster University
470 East Lockwood
St. Louis, MO 63119
jeanne's comments: Notice the Importance of Context