Myth #1: Kids are more violent than adults

Juveniles account for only 12 percent of all violent crimes. By the time we reach adult age, our habits usually stay with us for the rest of our lives. Accordingly, there is a certain percentage of adults that is responsible for the majority of crime since they are repeat offenders. However, it is possible that youth violence is underreported because parents prefer to discipline their children using their own methods.

Myth #2: Trying juveniles as adults reduces the likelihood of future crimes

It is best for juvenile delinquents to remain in the juvenile justice system. Youths who are transferred to adult criminal court are more likely to commit the same crime again, or additional felonies that will get them more time in jail. In addition to this risk, youths who are transferred into the adult justice system run the risk of being sent to prison with adult inmates. This increases their chances of becoming victims of physical and sexual assault.

Myth #3: Blacks and Latinos are more violent than others

While interviewing youths, teenresources.org found that race and ethnicity have little influence on the occurence of nonfatal violent behavior. However, there is a correlation between race and homicide rates. Also, there are higher percentages of the aforementioned groups in prison due to the timing and and continuous occurrence of their crimes. The social stigma that blacks and latinos are more violent is often perpetuated by the media, which often chooses to report crimes by black and latinos and neglects the reporting of other crimes.

Myth #4: Violence and video games do not relate

Some studies have indicated that video games do not encourage violence, just as some smoking studies have not found links to lung cancer. There will always be anomalies when conducting research. The most accurate conclusion is the one that is drawn from the majority of the data. In the case of violent video games, there are definite links to the following conditions: increased aggressive behavior, thoughts and decreased prosocial behavior. Delinquency, fighting at school and violent criminal behavior can also come from playing violent video games.

Myth #5: Youth Violence is only caused by video games

This is not true. There are many reasons for kids to be violent: pent up anger or frustration, mental triggers, a history of violent abuse by relatives. Some people even argue that video games provide an outlet for rage and violent feelings, emotions that are then never physically expressed. Siblings were beating each other up long before there was an Xbox in the living room. In Grimm’s fairy tales, the famous children’s book that was published three centuries ago, there are many gory and violent scenes. For example, in Snow White, the evil queen is forced to dance in red-hot iron shoes until she dies. The unpleasant fact is that violence is a tale as old as time.