Biological and Social Causes of School Violence (IN: School Violence: Assessment, Management, Prevention, edited by M Shafii & S L Shafii)

This chapter examines biological & social causes of school violence. Under biological causes, the following factors are discussed: male gender, serotonin dysregulation, other neurotransmitters, brain structure, & psychiatric disorders. Social factors in the etiology of violence are gangs, television, video games, the internet, & guns. It is concluded that biological & social factors of youth violence affect each other. These factors are also intertwined with psychological factors. Mental health professionals are said to be in a unique position to provide primary & secondary prevention of school violence. (58 refs.)