Why our youth are getting out of control - conduct disorders
| Wednesday August 20, 2014 10:58
Just last week, I was reading Mmegi (August 7, 2014), and there were 3 stories relating to out of control behavior by youth. One of them was about a teenager charged with three counts of rape, and the other two on young people facing murder charges. In psychology, a person who has a tendency of committing serious crimes such as murder and rape is said to have Conduct Disorder (CD). This type of disorder, like many other mental disorders, is classified under the psychiatric Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM IV). The word Conduct Disorder does not refer to a learner who comes late to class, seats at the back and starts reminiscing over how much fun she or he had over the weekend with friends at the movies while the teacher is busy explaining a concept. That would probably just be an inattentive child who needs some high interest activities. People with Conduct Disorders have a tendency of infringing on other people’s rights without remorse.
What causes conduct disorders?
It is not known for sure what causes Conduct Disorder, but there are many hypotheses, including an increase in ‘violence and stressors, more sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, overcrowded schools’. Physical conduct disorders generally seem to be more prevalent in males because they tend to express themselves more physically, whereas female conduct disorders seem to be more inclined towards lying and manipulating to get what they want. Below is a list of probable factors which are suspected to be contributing to Conduct Disorders:
Chemical dysregulation
One cause of Conduct Disorder is suspected to be chronically low levels of neurotransmitters such as cortisol, serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. The last three are said to be the Big Three “feel-better” neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters help to balance the brain during stressful situations. Research shows that consistent low levels of cortisol keeps people from being afraid of the consequences that come with crime, hence influence how people respond to potential stressors. In this case, one could assume that children are at high risk of chemical dysregulation due to transitions in our lifestyles. Those who grew up in the 80’s, like myself, remember that it was a norm to eat wholesome food like samp and dried beans (dikgobe), maize meal with green leafy vegetables, sorghum, organic beef and chicken with MSG limited or free spices prepared at home. Indeed, less was more then. Some of the above mentioned foods are said to be rich in vitamin B6, the building block of serotonin. Could this be part of the explanation why there were lower levels of stress back then? Nowadays our children are unfortunately over exposed to processed food with much lower nutritional value and plenty of MSG, which is accused of damaging our brain cells and triggering learning disabilities in children.
Trauma and family conflicts
Early life transitions such as loss of a loved one, abuse and divorce may alter brain function in a way that changes attachment styles of children. Prolonged family conflicts can also have a great impact in rendering children more susceptible to developing related disorders such as Borderline Personality Disorder, whereby the young person overreacts to the slightest stressor. Modern life could also be a contributing factor to Conduct Disorders: The quality of family relationships has been compromised by stress caused by the need to survive in the highly competitive modern environment. Parents who have had a rough day at work are highly likely to take that stress out on children subconsciously, and if this becomes habitual, the children might resent the parents. In some cases, some children, especially middle born children, may feel unloved and unfairly treated most of the time. In that way, there might be a chance the child might grow up with acute resentment, if they have a negative personality. This could lead also lead to Conduct Disorder.
Poor parenting skills
During the past, more simple times, families spent a lot of quality time together, sharing the gatwe erile kind of folklore, especially in the evening during supper time. These were very powerful for bonding parents with their children. Nowadays, electronic gadgets like TV, computers and cellphones can compromise the quality of family time if not properly managed. As much as it is important to keep up with modern life, children also need individual attention. Although spending quality time together is vital for bonding families, limited quality time on its own would rarely cause Conduct Disorder, but it can add fuel to the fire. It is therefore, important to note that one factor would normally not cause Conduct Disorder, children with this disorder usually have two or more “strikes” against them.
Reduced Prefrontal Activity
Individuals with Conduct Disorder may have experienced abnormal brain development before or after birth. One theory is that delivery complications at birth may cause brain vulnerabilities. A good gynaecologist would normally make provision for medical counseling during pregnancy to make an expectant couple aware of the consequences of labour complications on the fetal brain. The frontal lobes of the brain are said to regulate inhibition and impulsiveness of the brain.
Parental Substance Abuse
I was watching this TV show the other day called Giuliana and Bill and they were planning their second surrogate birth. What caught my attention was when Giuliana expressed how strongly she felt about engaging the same woman they chose for their first child. The reason she gave was that she was really happy with the way the woman took care of her and Bill’s child. She gave a very simple and straight forward way that during pregnancy, what you eat your child eats, what you drink your child drinks and what you feel your child feels. I was particularly moved by how much some people invest in their children’s brains even before birth, to the extent of choosing a surrogate mother who can consistently transfer a positive mood to their child during pregnancy. Research has shown that abnormal fetal development due to maternal substance abuse and/or smoking before or during pregnancy may lead to some damaging effects on the brain regions that control attention and movement. People with Conduct Disorder usually present comorbid disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which is basically about disoriented attention and movement.
Can conduct disorders be treated?
Yes. Young children who are consistently picking fights and breaking rules without showing any remorse need to be taken for psychological assessments and treatment because their behavior can develop into Conduct Disorders. Conduct Disorders in adolescents and adults would mostly take time to treat because those behaviors would have developed over a period of time. Cognitive and behavioral therapies are very effective for treating Conduct Disorders.
*Victoria Seiketso Sethibe is a practicing teacher and school counselor