Psychologist Reveals Factors Triggering Violent and Aggressive Behaviour

Psychologist Samanta Elsener has stated that family background, parenting styles, childhood experiences, and social environments are factors that can trigger the emergence of violent behaviour in a person. Elsener, who is also an administrator of the Indonesian Psychological Association (HIMPSI), explained that psychology recognises the concept of a cycle of violence. This cycle can form when a person, from childhood, becomes accustomed to witnessing or experiencing violence as part of daily life. According to her, children raised with harsh parenting may come to view actions such as hitting, cursing, or confinement as acceptable forms of discipline or ways to control others. “If from a young age a child is raised in an environment that considers hitting, cursing, and confinement as a way to solve problems or as a form of discipline, their brain will record that violence is normal to do when angry or wanting to control someone,” Samanta said when contacted by ANTARA on Wednesday (24/6). Samanta explained that harsh parenting can shape a child’s perspective on power relations, discipline, and conflict resolution. When violence is understood as normal, the child risks carrying these patterns into adulthood. In this context, violence is not only physical acts but can also take the form of insults, threats, confinement, or other actions intended to suppress and control others. Repeated experiences can cause a person to have difficulty distinguishing between discipline, control, and violence. Therefore, a violent parenting style can be a significant factor in the formation of aggressive behaviour. Besides parenting, adverse childhood experiences can also affect a person’s emotional development into adulthood. Children who experience or witness domestic violence have the potential to suffer emotional development disorders if they do not receive adequate treatment. “In adulthood, some people who do not get trauma recovery will switch roles, from being a victim to becoming a perpetrator so they no longer feel weak,” she said. Nonetheless, Samanta stressed that a difficult childhood does not automatically make someone a perpetrator of violence. Many individuals who have had difficult childhoods are able to break the cycle of violence. According to her, social support, education, and professional help can assist a person in understanding trauma, managing emotions, and building healthier relationship patterns. Another factor that plays a role in shaping a person’s behaviour is the condition of the social environment. An environment that tolerates aggressive behaviour, lacks emotional education, or normalises violence can reinforce a person’s tendency to act harshly. “A toxic social environment, minimal emotional education, or even tolerance of aggressive behaviour also fosters the talent for violence within a person,” Samanta said. Therefore, violence prevention cannot be carried out solely at the individual level. Families, schools, communities, and social environments must also build a culture that does not tolerate aggressive actions or violence. Samanta emphasised the importance of social support and professional help to break the chain of violence. Trauma recovery, emotional education, and a safe environment can serve as protective factors so that bad experiences do not develop into behaviour that harms others. The issue of violence in relationships has also drawn renewed attention after a 29-year-old woman from Bandung Regency was reported to be a victim of confinement and torture for three years. The woman, who had lost contact with her family since 2023, was found in critical condition in a hospital. She was allegedly confined and tortured by her partner during that period. To her father, the victim confessed to experiencing extremely cruel abuse. During that time, the perpetrator reportedly moved the victim from one rented room to another in the Cileunyi area of Bandung Regency to avoid arousing suspicion from residents. The incident underscores the importance of community vigilance towards signs of violence, especially when a person appears isolated, is difficult for family to contact, or is in a relationship full of control and threats. According to Samanta, violence can be triggered by various interrelated factors. However, the cycle can be broken through understanding, support, education, and appropriate intervention.