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Originally Posted by Skutch
Interesting points. 2 things.
1: Why is it important for a very young child to feel the need to control something - anything?
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Because feeling like you're in control of something is the exact opposite of feeling helpless, and as far as i can tell, helplessness is one feeling most people try to avoid.
I don't know if you remember being a kid, but i do. Children are constantly being told what to do, and with good reason. They lack the awareness required to not inadvertently seriously hurt themselves or someone else. Regardless, constantly being bossed around can be stressful, and being physically active is one way of relieving stress. One of the few things that a kid at that age does have a lot of control over (in a sense they don't have that much control) is his/her body.
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2: If what you postulate is true, why does the need to control ever manifest itself in aggressive behavior?
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It could be for a lot of different reasons. Maybe the kid is trying to get in trouble because they want some attention from their caregiver. Maybe the kid is just mimicking behavior that they've seen elsewhere. Maybe the kid is just experimenting with different kinds of behavior.
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Don't feel obligated to answer, I just enjoy child psychology.
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Well, i wouldn't be all formal with it. This is just me talking out of my ass. And i wouldn't say that there aren't any kids who are prone to anti-social violence, i just think that there is generally a more satisfying explanation for it than simply chalking it up to human nature.