Community Strategies for Reducing Violence

by Dr. Kathie F. Nunley

The "guru of violent behavior research", Adrian Raine, suggests three intervention strategies for reducing violence and violent behavior in our communities.

First - biofeedback training sessions for adolescents who show lower than normal physical arousal. Studies show that 15yr old males who show particularly low arousal (for example, don't startle easily) are predisposed to criminal and violent behavior when they reach their mid-twenties. On-the-other-hand, antisocial adolescents who show high arousal response, appear to outgrow or overcome their violent tendencies by their mid-twenties.

Second - cognitive therapy (re-train the thinking process) of people who appear to have damage or dysfunction in the pre-frontal cortex. This region of the brain has been shown time and again to be responsible for violent behavior. Third - Improved pre-natal follow-up following birth complications. Research indicates a correlation between birth complications coupled with a mother's rejection around age one, and violent crime during adolescence.

Kathie F. Nunley is an educational psychologist, author, researcher and speaker living in southern New Hampshire. Developer of the Layered Curriculum™ method of instruction, Dr. Nunley has authored several books and articles on teaching in mixed-ability classrooms and other problems facing today's teachers. Full references and additional teaching and parental tips are available at: http://Help4Teachers.com

(originally written in 2001, this article may be used in any non-profit print publication so long as it is used in its entirety including the bottom author credit paragraph).