Collected Works Serials (022)

Nearly one million adolescents between the ages of 12and 19 are victims of violent crimes each year, and this has beentrue since at least 1985. Children are becoming involved in violenceat ever younger ages, both as victims and as perpetrators. The threatof firearms is the greatest concern in adolescent violence, but nosingle factor can be blamed as the cause of violenc.e. The role themedia play in inciting violence is a hot and controversial topic, butmany agree with the warning of the American Psychological Associationthat viewing violence increases fear of becoming a victim, with aresultant increase in self-protective behavior and mistrust. Violenceis learned, and can be combated through teaching alternatives. Theteaching of prosocial behavior at home and in school must beaccompanied b; the provision of health and social services tochildren and families. Conflict resolution and mediation programsshow promise in reducing violence. Violence prevention curricula areamong the important efforts schools can make. These efforts can besupported by community and youth organizations. Three projects,operating nationally, are described to illustrate some ongoingefforts in violence prevention. Winning against violence will requirea public stance that violence is socially unacceptable. (Contains 28references.) (SLD) * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be madefrom the original document