11 Causes of School Violence

Every year, there are an average of 1.4 million school violence incidents in the United States. School violence affects those involved in the event as well as the entire school, creating an atmosphere of insecurity that makes it difficult for students to feel safe. 

It’s not always easy to understand what causes school violence, yet knowing the cause is the key to taking action to prevent it. Learn more about the causes of school violence and what you can do about them. 

What Is School Violence?

School violence includes violent acts that occur on school property. It can involve acts between students or between students and teachers or administrators. It also encompasses violence that takes place on the way to or from school-related events. 

Types of School Violence

There are various types of school violence, but they all have the potential to cause mental and physical distress for those who witness it or are victims of it. 

Physical Violence

Physical violence is the act of attempting to cause injury or harm. Physical school violence includes pushing, kicking, pulling hair, slapping, and punching and may or may not include use of a weapon.

Psychological Violence

Psychological violence encompasses verbal and emotional abuse. It can involve actions like:

• Insulting
• Rejecting
• Humiliating
• Name-calling
• Spreading rumors
• Isolating
• Punishing
• Lying

Those at the receiving end of psychological violence suffer from these actions and may experience self-esteem issues that impact them throughout their lives. 

Sexual Violence

Sexual violence in schools includes unwelcomed verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, such as sexual harassment or sexual assault.

Bullying and Cyberbullying

Bullying is intimidating or threatening behavior that is repeated or carries the threat of being repeated over time. It takes many forms, such as shoving, hair-pulling, using belittling expressions, and name-calling. 

The latest form of bullying is cyberbullying, which involves the use of technology to harass someone. Cyberbullying can happen through social media, gaming platforms, text messaging, and other digital spaces. 

11 Risk Factors and Causes of School Violence

While it’s not always easy to know what causes school violence has, the following 11 factors are some of the most pervasive indicators of school violence.

1. Poor Academic Performance

Poor academic performance puts a student in conflict with other students, teachers, and even their parents. This creates a stressful atmosphere around the student, increasing the number of negative interactions they have with adults and their peers. 

2. Prior History of Violence 

A student who has a history of violence is more likely to engage in further violence. This risk factor increases if the lack of emotional regulation that contributed to previous acts has not been properly addressed. 

3. Hyperactivity or Impulsive Personality

Poor impulse control is one of the most common causes of school violence. Students who struggle to moderate their emotions or their reactions to stimuli may be more likely to act out.

4. Mental Health Conditions

A child or teenager with a mental health condition may not know how to manage the powerful symptoms they experience, making it one of the common causes of school violence. Mental health concerns can isolate students and put them at risk of bullying.

5. Witnessing or Being a Victim of Violence

Children and teens learn behavior through modeling. Seeing their parents, guardians, teachers, or any other adults resorting to violence shows them that it may be the only way to deal with their emotions and resolve their problems. 

6. Alcohol, Drug, or Tobacco Use

Alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs impact areas of the brain that are just developing in children and teens. Using these substances can change the structure of the brain, impacting impulse control and much more. 

7. Dysfunctional Family Dynamic

A child or teenager who doesn’t have the right amount of supervision or whose parent or guardian is so preoccupied with their own struggles that they neglect their child is more likely to engage in violence. This occurs because the child doesn’t have a model for what emotional stability looks like.

8. Domestic Violence and Abuse

Children and teens who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence develop trauma that impedes emotional processing as well as learning. This can isolate the child from peers, affecting their view of the school environment. 

9. Access to Weapons

Having easy access to weapons encourages impulsive actions. It also puts the child at risk of self-harm.

10. Delinquent Peers

Because children and teens learn through seeing others, being surrounded by delinquent peers makes it more likely for them to follow that example. Delinquent behavior makes violence more likely.

11. Poverty or High Crime Rates in the Community

Living in poverty or in a community where crime is high encourages the child to model that behavior. Poverty also correlates to the development of other risk factors and causes of school violence, such as mental illness and domestic abuse. 

School Violence Prevention Strategies

One of the most important prevention strategies is to offer children quality education from early in life. Children who have higher self-esteem and who don’t feel like they’re constantly struggling with teachers are less likely to turn to violence. 

To complement the first strategy, strengthening the skills of young students is another approach to consider. This involves social awareness and interpersonal skills as well as emotional regulation. 

Because the family environment has such an impact on the risk of a child turning to violence, actively promoting and welcoming parent involvement in the school is essential. This keeps parents invested in their child’s behavior and academic processes while ensuring the child doesn’t feel isolated. 

Another strategy to consider is to offer interventions to reduce harm and prevent future risk. Providing counseling services as well as outreach programs is essential.

Creating protective community environments where trusted adults can watch for troubling behavior helps keep children and teens safe when they’re not on school grounds. This also means connecting youths who are at risk with caring adults and guiding them through activities that help build self-esteem. 

Fostering a Safe School Environment

At Rachel’s Challenge, we offer programs to help create a positive and welcoming atmosphere for students. By encouraging empathy and building a sense of community in the school, at-risk children can receive the support they need. Contact Rachel’s Challenge to book a live or digital program or to make a donation.