300184447-Birth complications
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Section 1
Many people believe that violence and aggression are products of weak social bonds, childhood neglect and poor socioeconomic status. Recently, there have been many facets of research that suggest aggression may be biologically based and may start as early as conception. Environmental factors do come into play, but ultimately birth complications do lead to an increase of aggression and the chance of committing violent acts.
Birth complications can influence violence in many ways. Prenatal exposure to alcohol, delivery complications and prenatal exposure to drugs (illicit or prescription) can all impact the fetal brain and can increase aggression and impulsivity. According to Dr. Jan Volavka’s Neurobiology of Violence, fetal alcohol exposure has the following detrimental effects: delayed development, seizures, hyperactivity and attention deficits, intellectual deficits and learning disabilities (2002, p. 144). Low IQ and hyperactivity/attention deficits are associated with impulsivity which leads to aggression and possibly violence. Volavka (2002) reiterates this in her study of boys with fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects saying that, “Approximately 50% of the adolescents with fetal alcohol syndrome or effects were engaged in bullying [and] impulsiveness is frequent among these patients” (2002, p.144).
Basic prenatal and perinatal complications also affect a child’s future tendencies towards aggression. The nutritional health of the mother has a huge impact on the overall health and cognitive functioning of the fetus. Researchers Beck and Shaw (2005) show that if maternal health status has been compromised during pregnancy, the offspring may experience decreased functioning in the central nervous system. This CNS deficiency has been tested individually as predictors of deviant behavior and outcomes (p. 2). Low CNS activity has been associated with a delayed response to the normal “fight or flight” response mechanism built into humans. This means that a child experiencing a slower central nervous system is less responsive to fear stimuli and more likely to commit aggressive, violent acts.
Prenatal exposure to drugs has a large impact on the unborn fetus. Bercovici (2005) states that “Since many psychotropic drugs cross the placenta and effect brain neurotransmitters there is a definite risk of long-term consequences to the developing brain” (p. 3). Anything the mother consumes affects the baby she is carrying. Bercovici (2005) goes on to show that one-third of women who are pregnant take psychotropic drugs at least once during their pregnancy (p.3). There are many factors as to why a mother would need to take prescription drugs during her pregnancy. She may be managing depression, anxiety, epileptic seizures, schizophrenia or other mental illnesses. For example, women taking anti-epileptic drugs during pregnancy have produced offspring that are more likely to be hyperactive, have learning disabilities, delay in verbal communication and detrimental effects on their long term spatial and cognitive memory (Bercovici, 2005, p. 13). Low IQ, verbal delay, hyperactivity and low birth weight can all be side effects of psychotropic drug consumption during pregnancy and can be attributed to aggression in children because they lower cognitive performance and function. Siever (2008) explains that “aggressive behavior has often been associated with poor executive function and verbal processing” (p. 8). Lowered frontal cortex control can be caused by prenatal drug use and thus lead to aggressive behavior.
Violent behavior that has been directly caused by birth complications can be reduced through offering pregnant women programs to receive whatever prenatal healthcare needed to keep themselves and their baby healthy, help with alcohol addiction and proper monitoring of psychotropic medication usage.
Section 2
An example that uses the concept of birth complications leading to violence is the case of Eric Smith, a 13 year old boy who choked and killed 4 year old Derrick Robie in 1993 (Leung, 2004). According to CBS News, Dan Rather recalls the case of Eric Smith, a child who was bullied throughout school, smaller than the rest of the kids in his class, and who contained a lot of pent-up aggression. Eric Smith’s stepfather, Ted Smith, recalled a conversation with his step son when he was very young in which “‘[Eric] was really upset. He was crunching his fists and shaking and told me that 'Dad, I need help’” (Leung, 2004). Ted told Eric to let out his aggression by physical exertion on a punching bag and didn’t think twice about Eric’s cry for help. In August 1994, Eric lured 4 year old Derrick Robie into the woods where he choked, assaulted, killed, and then sodomized Derrick. Eric showed no signs of immediate guilt, he positioned Derrick’s body with each of his sneakers alongside each arm, poured out Derrick’s Kool Aid on him and squashed the banana he had in his paper lunch bag. Eric then took a week before confessing to the murder of Derrick and investigators claimed he was very calm, happy, and upbeat when talking with police. Eric’s mother Tammy took an anti-epileptic drug Tridione during her pregnancy with Eric which has been known to cause birth defects (Leung, 2004).
Section 3
Eric Smith is a child who had many red warning flags since birth. His mother’s use of the drug Tridione could have been a cause of his developmental delays and low-set ears. According to Abbot Laboratories (2009), the manufacturer of Tridione, say that […] the use of anticonvulsant drugs results in an increased incidence in birth defects in the offspring […] Tridione should be administered to women of childbearing potential only if they are clearly shown to be essential to the management of their seizures […] if a patient becomes pregnant while taking Tridione, termination of the pregnancy should be considered (p. 4). Tridione and other anti-epileptic drugs cause physical defects, such as low-set ears and low birth weight, but also cognitive defects as well. Tridione defects include: temper tantrums, late walking/talking, slow learning, ADD, and pre-maturity or small stature (Abbot Laboratories 2009). Bercovici (2005) says that the “use of Anti-Epileptic Drugs during pregnancy increases the risk of congenital malfunction about 2 to 3 fold” (p.12). It is highly likely that Tammy Smith’s use of Tridione caused Eric Smith’s learning disabilities and physical shortcomings. Leung (2004) shows that “the drug caused Smith's ears to be low set and caused his developmental delays, which profoundly affected his self-esteem.” This in turn fueled Eric’s anger and aggression.
If Tridione causes these defects, can we assume they were the causes of Eric’s behavior? On top of pent-up aggression, Eric tortured small animals as a child, wet his bed, and set fires. These are all warning signs of developing anti-social personality disorder, according to Volavka (2002, p. 99). The largest piece of the puzzle that could unravel Eric’s aggressive, violent behavior can be linked back to his prenatal exposure to Tridione. Environment, stressors, and social interactions only fueled Eric’s disadvantages and hurtled him into a situation where his aggression could not be controlled. This is a concrete example of how birth complications can influence violence.
Section 4
Dylan Klebold, one of the shooters in the Columbine Shooting incident, was clinically depressed and was taking psychotropic medications for his condition. I couldn’t find any history on his parents, but depression may be genetic. As far as birth complications for the two boys, there is no indication that either mother used prescription or illicit drugs, alcohol or had delivery complications during birth.
References
Abbot Laboratories. (2009). Tridione (trimethadione) Tablet, Chewable. Retrieved May 10 2009 from www.rxabbott.com/pdf/tridione_pi.pdf.
Beck, J.E. & Shaw, D. S. (2005). The Influence of perinatal complications and environmental adversity on boy’s antisocial behavior. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 46, 35-46.
Bercovici, E. (2005). Prenatal and Perinatal Effects of Psychotropic Drugs on Neuro-cognitive Development in the Fetus. Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 11(2), 1-20. Retrieved May 18, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Leung, R. (2004). Why Did Eric Kill? CBS News. Retrieved May 10 2009 from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/12/10/48hours/main660314.shtml.
Siever, L. (2008, April). Neurobiology of aggression and violence. American Journal of Psychiatry, 165(4), 429-442. Retrieved May 18, 2009, doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2008.07111774
Volavka, J.(2002). Neurobiology of Violence. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.
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