How to Change Violent Behavior in Teenage Girls

Event the sweetest little girls can change, seemingly overnight, as they grow into teens. While it̵7;s not uncommon for your teen daughter to become a little more withdrawn, a bit more rebellious and a little less interested in family time, becoming violent is not a normal part of a teen girl's development. According to Help Guide, a nonprofit resource for families, teen girls are less likely to become physically violent than teen boys. If your daughter is engaging in violent behavior, changing it is necessary for her safety, the well-being of your family and your own peace of mind.

Instructions

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      Search for a reason that explains your daughter̵7;s sudden violent behavior, advises Help Guide. For the most part, teenage girls do not simply choose to become violent, angry or depressed for the fun of it; there is usually a trigger. It could be a life event such as divorce, a long-distance move or the loss of someone close to her. To pinpoint triggers try writing down instances in which your teen becomes violent, such as the time, the date and what was going on around the time her behavior became violent; keep a close eye on your notes to see if there is a common trigger. For example, perhaps she̵7;s particularly violent on days she spends time with her new group of friends, which could mean these teens are bad influences. If you can pinpoint when it was that she started behaving violently, you might be able to learn what̵7;s behind her behavior, which can help you help her deal with her emotions in a more effective manner than through confrontation.

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      Monitor the kinds of television shows and movies your teenage daughter watches. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry cites studies indicating how television violence affects the way teenage girls react to the barrage of images. AACAP reports that they not only become immune to violence, but also begin to view violent behavior as a problem-solving technique; they begin to change their behavior to model that of their favorite violent characters.

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      Encourage your teen to take her violence out in a manner that is more appropriate. According to Help Guide, your daughter might benefit from playing a physical sport or taking up exercise that allows her to release her bottled-up anger and aggression, both of which can lead to violent behavior in teenage girls. Help Guide encourages parents that are comfortable with it to permit a daughter to use a punching bag or to take her violence out on her pillow. NBC News cites a study performed by the Indiana University School of Medicine that indicates that kids who play violent video games at home or online show an increased level of aggressiveness in brain scans. To prevent this from causing your teen daughter to become more aggressive, monitor the video games you let her play at home and protect your computers at home with parental controls that block certain websites, such as the ones that allow teens to play violent online games. You can also create a rule that states the computer at home must be in a public room, such as the living room, which should make it more difficult for your teen to participate in activities online that you do not approve of.

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      Seek professional help for your daughter with a certified mental health professional. According to AACAP, a professional evaluation can help to determine whether or not your daughter is suffering from a mental issue such as depression. Additionally, a professional can help your daughter control her violence by teaching her to get a handle on her emotions, identify her triggers and even learn to take responsibility for her violence.

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