There is no single cause for teen violence, with several factors likely to be at play in any particular case. Teens may act out in revenge for being bullied, teased or victimized at school, in their neighborhood or from living in an abusive home. Another reason that teens may act violently is because they are copying behavior they have seen at home, the street, in video games or movies.
Being a teenager is a frustrating time, but sometimes additional issues can result in violent behavior. Psychological risk factors include low IQ, hyperactivity, attention deficits, learning disorders and other emotional stress. Teens whose peers exhibit violent or criminal behavior have a greater tendency to act in a similar fashion. Those who don't perform well academically or fit in socially at school are also more at risk of lashing-out violently as too are teens with access to weapons.
According to the findings of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, youth violence is the second leading cause of death for people aged between 10 and 24. Besides murder, assault, fighting, bullying and carrying weapons at school has become widespread across schools in the United States. Non-fatal injuries, some resulting in permanent disabilities as well as detrimental mental health side-effects including suicide are the result of teen violence. As well as individual health, teen violence effects the health of the community as a whole, by increasing health-care costs, disrupting social services and decreasing property values.
Teenagers who exhibit signs of violence and aggression are more likely to commit violent and criminal acts beyond school violence and bullying such as date rape, assault and vandalism. Violent teens are also more likely to become members of street gangs and involved in the criminal activities undertaken by these groups including drug trafficking, robbery and illegal weapons trading.