Girlhood: The Theories Of Aggression And Violence
In modern society various people partake in acts of aggression and violence. Regardless of age or gender, expressing aggression and participating in violent actions are frequent obscenities in many cultures today. In the documentary Girlhood, Liz Garbus follows two young women who have encountered numerous misfortunes in the past that led them to implement their violent offences. Both girls work towards their freedom from the rehabilitation center in Baltimore, Maryland and finally become productive members of society. The movie comes to an end with one of the girls, Shanae, after much perseverance, overcoming her appalling behaviours and graduate from high school. Megan, the other young offender continues to practise delinquent behaviours and struggle
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with her goals in life. Their lives were substantially different having unalike motivations and drawbacks to becoming who and where they were in the end of the film. Psychologists, anthropologists and sociologists would view each of their cases in separate ways, in order to uncover the explanation to why they performed such vicious acts and what led to their rehabilitation or lack there of.
Psychologists have unique methods for determining a cause of a certain violent behaviour or outburst. They examine the specific cases and study how assorted theories apply to them. As well, psychologists review significant past experiences in the person's life that would help to better understand the behaviours and outcomes of that person. A psychologist would examine the theory of frustration-aggression. This theory purposes the belief that aggression occurs because of an experience of frustration and the inability to achieve a certain goal. In Shanae's case, the girl she stabbed and Shanae had a constant battle occurring between them for quite sometime. There was a complex frustration linked in their friendship, that caused Shanae to retaliate, which led to the girl's death. Another theory, displacement, which involves the redirection of aggression that was established by Dollard in 1939, would be applied to the girls' cases. A psychologist would assume Shanae may have murdered her friend as a
retaliation of frustration towards other areas in her life, such as her mother's constant absence because of the two jobs she worked in order to financially care for the family. Also, Shanae may of expressed displacement, from the time she was eleven, when she was raped by 5 boys, she knew and who were never arrested. In comparison, Megan's situation was similar as she may have committed 1st and 2nd degree assault and assault with a weapon as a way of expressing the frustration she suffered because of her mother's absence, as well. However, her mother was away periodically since Megan was seven, doing drugs, participating in prostitution or being in jail. Psychologists would also examine Shanae's and Megan's prior experiences as a way to explain their personalities and to explain why they acted in violent manners. Shanae took drugs, drank alcohol and had sex at an early age. She first has sex and drank alcohol at 10 years old. At eleven she was raped by five boys, and had two abortions. This trauma that a young girl should never experience may have influenced her personality and increased her aggression which caused her to stab her friend to death. Megan's past significant experiences were unrelated to Shanae's. Megan did not speak of rape in her past, however, she lived in eleven foster homes because of her mother's absence and her grandmother's inability to take care of her. In a psychologist's point of view, each of these girls' prior frustrations and prior experiences explain their violent acts.
Along with explaining Shanae and Megan's offences, psychologists would also tackle the question: what factors led to the different outcomes for both girls? Each girl had a drastically different outcome: Shanae ended up living in stable household, graduated high school, and was attending community college in the fall, while Megan, was currently living with an aunt, after constantly changing her residence, she was participating in drug use and had not yet graduated from high school. Shanae's positive outcome was a result of her lack in frustration, for she had the ongoing support and encouragement from her family. Although she experienced a dramatic tragedy, her mother dying, she positively dealt with it and as a result became a stronger person, working towards her goals. On the other hand, Megan's situation, at the end of the documentary, was a result of constant frustration from a variety of events in her life. She was experiencing anger because she felt nobody loved her, since no one came to visit her or was trying to get her to change her ways. Her father's harsh statement of, "I wish you were never born." Added to her anger and lack of motivation to change her lifestyle. Her mother's drug problem, and her failure to help her properly rehabilitate also must have caused Megan deep grief and sorrow. From a psychologist's view the lack of frustration in Shanae's life and the whole lot of it in Megan's, led to their separate outcomes in the end of Girlhood. Anthropologists view the issue of Shanae and Megan from a completely different outlook than psychologists. These scientists examine other cultures to explain specific cases of violence and aggression. To explain Shanae and Megan's cases, an anthropologist would examine the North American culture as a whole. The common practises done by disadvantaged North American teens living in poor communities are: drinking, smoking, drugs, and practising violent behaviours. By Shanae living in the projects, she was subject to these negative pastimes and reluctantly grew accustom to them, and soon actively participated in them. Megan grew up in a similar environment and was exposed as well to such immoral activities. A value called ihuma that is practised in Inuit societies, requires people to remain in control of their emotions under all circumstances, and refrain from confrontation and aggression. However, North American culture does not practise such traditions, and people often display signs of aggression amongst each other, that demonstrates the acceptance of such practises, to girls like Shanae and Megan, and causes them to act violently. As well another significant aspect of the Inuit societies is Naklik, which is a concern for the welfare of others. In the western world, people care little for strangers, which allows people to commit horrendous acts towards others. Tahitian societies believe in the aspect of adoption, that encourages a family that has greater resources to take care of children from a disadvantaged family. Thus, allowing children to grow up in economically stable environments unlike many North American households. Had this practise been applied to Shanae and Megan's lives, they would have been adequately cared for and therefore would have grown up with less aggression in their lives.
Sociologist's methods and techniques differ from other researchers when examining and explaining people's aggressive and violent behaviours. They would look at concrete theories developed by researches and social scientists that would aid in explaining the brutal tragedies committed by the two girls. A theory developed by Durkheim that believes criminal behaviour is the result of anomie, a sense of alienation from prevailing social attitudes, would help to explain the offences. Since both girls' parents or guardians lived in low financial situations; Shanae lived in the projects and Megan grow up in foster homes, both were deprived of socially accepted material goods. This lack of finances and material goods, can lead to deviant aggression, which both girls experienced. Sutherland's theory of differential association, which states that people who associate with those who consider criminal behaviour acceptable, leads to committing criminal behaviour. Shanae's mother said when speaking with the admittance officer of the group home she was applying to, that her daughter, "was hanging around with some bad people." The friends Shanae associated with participated in criminal behaviour, such as drinking and smoking, which led to Shanae participating in the activities as well, and helped lead her to aggression. Shanae also experienced anonymity, which is a theory that believes living in crowded areas makes people more aggressive and violent for they loose their identity and become like the rest of the crowd. Since Shanae and her mother lived in the "projects" she was tightly knit with the people around her and began to behave similarly to them. Megan also experienced anonymity for she lived in Baltimore, as well, which is an urban city where people are closely surrounded by one another. The break down of the nuclear family is a concept that aggression is brought on because of the absence of a mother or father, or both. Sociologists would mainly focus on this when attempting to explain the girls' behaviours, for it has the most impact on a child's life and Shanae and Megan, both experienced it. The girls grew up with an absence of their mothers and because of this, they were not properly socialized and were not taught socially accepted behaviours and attitudes from their families. Even though Megan was in foster care, she would often run away and be moved to a new home, so she never got adequate teaching. With a breakdown of a nuclear family, children grow up lacking in self-esteem and the ability to get along with others which consequently, promotes violence among youth. These four ideas that sociologists to examine and explain the girls' offences each lead to aggression.
Near the end of the documentary Girlhood, Shanae and Megan were in two different stages of life and rehabilitation. From a socialist's perspective Shanae's positive outcome was because of her opportunities, location, friends, and family. She was no longer affected by differential association, for she stayed clear of negative peers and therefore remained free of alcohol use and aggressive behaviour. Also, Shanae lived in a home, which appeared to be located in the suburbs, which eliminated her risk of experiencing anonymity. She also spent a long time in rehabilitation centers, which gave her adequate time to realize her mistakes, and strive for goals she wished to achieve. As for the benefits of a nuclear family, Shanae's mother was absent once again, because of her unforeseen death, however from the scene before prom, it appeared that Shanae still had a loving family who have helped her understand behaviours and attitudes that were approved by society. While Shanae was in the Waxter Juvenile Facility her mother was always by her side, constantly attending visits and court, encouraging and promoting her rehabilitation. A worker at the Waxter Facility said speaking about Shanae, "Her mom's caring and loving, she'll do anything for her." This support led her to work towards freedom and acquiring her goals. Shanae said once in the documentary, "it ain't all about me," meaning that she was making the effort of rehabilitating because of her mom, and not just herself. Megan on the other hand did not have such optimistic encouragement. People would tell her, "you're going to end up just like your mom." This comment decreased Megan's motivation to better herself drastically. She was also not properly rehabilitated, for in a short time she was removed from the watchful eye of administrators, to living on the streets participating in her prior negative ways. Megan was also not experiencing the love and appropriate guidance she needed after being released, that Shanae had, for she was not living with Ms. Herr, her foster mom, but was living on her own. Because of this, she was not being taught how to adequately become a member of society, but rather was living her own, corrupted way of life. "Mom was supposed to teach me the basics of life, Megan once told Garbus. Megan also did not have the stability of a permanent residence, for she moved eight times in eight months; from Ms. Herr, to Rhonda's, to Kimmies, to her father's, to her cousin's, to her aunt's house, and to other places in between.
For each particular expert; the psychologist, the anthropologist and the sociologist, there is a set method of examining the reasons behind a person's violent actions in order to expose the factors of why the girls' committed their criminal offences and to explain what caused their final outcomes. Various theories that were developed by researchers assisted in the analysis of Shane and Megan's actions. North American culture was also a factor in their wrong turns, early on in life. Unfortunate past experiences and the breakdowns of their families also contributed to the fierce and malicious acts committed by the girls. One day, once further research is conducted and more conclusions are drawn about society and its mysterious pull towards violence and aggression, more preventative pressures will be imposed, eliminating it all together.
with her goals in life. Their lives were substantially different having unalike motivations and drawbacks to becoming who and where they were in the end of the film. Psychologists, anthropologists and sociologists would view each of their cases in separate ways, in order to uncover the explanation to why they performed such vicious acts and what led to their rehabilitation or lack there of.
Psychologists have unique methods for determining a cause of a certain violent behaviour or outburst. They examine the specific cases and study how assorted theories apply to them. As well, psychologists review significant past experiences in the person's life that would help to better understand the behaviours and outcomes of that person. A psychologist would examine the theory of frustration-aggression. This theory purposes the belief that aggression occurs because of an experience of frustration and the inability to achieve a certain goal. In Shanae's case, the girl she stabbed and Shanae had a constant battle occurring between them for quite sometime. There was a complex frustration linked in their friendship, that caused Shanae to retaliate, which led to the girl's death. Another theory, displacement, which involves the redirection of aggression that was established by Dollard in 1939, would be applied to the girls' cases. A psychologist would assume Shanae may have murdered her friend as a
retaliation of frustration towards other areas in her life, such as her mother's constant absence because of the two jobs she worked in order to financially care for the family. Also, Shanae may of expressed displacement, from the time she was eleven, when she was raped by 5 boys, she knew and who were never arrested. In comparison, Megan's situation was similar as she may have committed 1st and 2nd degree assault and assault with a weapon as a way of expressing the frustration she suffered because of her mother's absence, as well. However, her mother was away periodically since Megan was seven, doing drugs, participating in prostitution or being in jail. Psychologists would also examine Shanae's and Megan's prior experiences as a way to explain their personalities and to explain why they acted in violent manners. Shanae took drugs, drank alcohol and had sex at an early age. She first has sex and drank alcohol at 10 years old. At eleven she was raped by five boys, and had two abortions. This trauma that a young girl should never experience may have influenced her personality and increased her aggression which caused her to stab her friend to death. Megan's past significant experiences were unrelated to Shanae's. Megan did not speak of rape in her past, however, she lived in eleven foster homes because of her mother's absence and her grandmother's inability to take care of her. In a psychologist's point of view, each of these girls' prior frustrations and prior experiences explain their violent acts.
Along with explaining Shanae and Megan's offences, psychologists would also tackle the question: what factors led to the different outcomes for both girls? Each girl had a drastically different outcome: Shanae ended up living in stable household, graduated high school, and was attending community college in the fall, while Megan, was currently living with an aunt, after constantly changing her residence, she was participating in drug use and had not yet graduated from high school. Shanae's positive outcome was a result of her lack in frustration, for she had the ongoing support and encouragement from her family. Although she experienced a dramatic tragedy, her mother dying, she positively dealt with it and as a result became a stronger person, working towards her goals. On the other hand, Megan's situation, at the end of the documentary, was a result of constant frustration from a variety of events in her life. She was experiencing anger because she felt nobody loved her, since no one came to visit her or was trying to get her to change her ways. Her father's harsh statement of, "I wish you were never born." Added to her anger and lack of motivation to change her lifestyle. Her mother's drug problem, and her failure to help her properly rehabilitate also must have caused Megan deep grief and sorrow. From a psychologist's view the lack of frustration in Shanae's life and the whole lot of it in Megan's, led to their separate outcomes in the end of Girlhood. Anthropologists view the issue of Shanae and Megan from a completely different outlook than psychologists. These scientists examine other cultures to explain specific cases of violence and aggression. To explain Shanae and Megan's cases, an anthropologist would examine the North American culture as a whole. The common practises done by disadvantaged North American teens living in poor communities are: drinking, smoking, drugs, and practising violent behaviours. By Shanae living in the projects, she was subject to these negative pastimes and reluctantly grew accustom to them, and soon actively participated in them. Megan grew up in a similar environment and was exposed as well to such immoral activities. A value called ihuma that is practised in Inuit societies, requires people to remain in control of their emotions under all circumstances, and refrain from confrontation and aggression. However, North American culture does not practise such traditions, and people often display signs of aggression amongst each other, that demonstrates the acceptance of such practises, to girls like Shanae and Megan, and causes them to act violently. As well another significant aspect of the Inuit societies is Naklik, which is a concern for the welfare of others. In the western world, people care little for strangers, which allows people to commit horrendous acts towards others. Tahitian societies believe in the aspect of adoption, that encourages a family that has greater resources to take care of children from a disadvantaged family. Thus, allowing children to grow up in economically stable environments unlike many North American households. Had this practise been applied to Shanae and Megan's lives, they would have been adequately cared for and therefore would have grown up with less aggression in their lives.
Sociologist's methods and techniques differ from other researchers when examining and explaining people's aggressive and violent behaviours. They would look at concrete theories developed by researches and social scientists that would aid in explaining the brutal tragedies committed by the two girls. A theory developed by Durkheim that believes criminal behaviour is the result of anomie, a sense of alienation from prevailing social attitudes, would help to explain the offences. Since both girls' parents or guardians lived in low financial situations; Shanae lived in the projects and Megan grow up in foster homes, both were deprived of socially accepted material goods. This lack of finances and material goods, can lead to deviant aggression, which both girls experienced. Sutherland's theory of differential association, which states that people who associate with those who consider criminal behaviour acceptable, leads to committing criminal behaviour. Shanae's mother said when speaking with the admittance officer of the group home she was applying to, that her daughter, "was hanging around with some bad people." The friends Shanae associated with participated in criminal behaviour, such as drinking and smoking, which led to Shanae participating in the activities as well, and helped lead her to aggression. Shanae also experienced anonymity, which is a theory that believes living in crowded areas makes people more aggressive and violent for they loose their identity and become like the rest of the crowd. Since Shanae and her mother lived in the "projects" she was tightly knit with the people around her and began to behave similarly to them. Megan also experienced anonymity for she lived in Baltimore, as well, which is an urban city where people are closely surrounded by one another. The break down of the nuclear family is a concept that aggression is brought on because of the absence of a mother or father, or both. Sociologists would mainly focus on this when attempting to explain the girls' behaviours, for it has the most impact on a child's life and Shanae and Megan, both experienced it. The girls grew up with an absence of their mothers and because of this, they were not properly socialized and were not taught socially accepted behaviours and attitudes from their families. Even though Megan was in foster care, she would often run away and be moved to a new home, so she never got adequate teaching. With a breakdown of a nuclear family, children grow up lacking in self-esteem and the ability to get along with others which consequently, promotes violence among youth. These four ideas that sociologists to examine and explain the girls' offences each lead to aggression.
Near the end of the documentary Girlhood, Shanae and Megan were in two different stages of life and rehabilitation. From a socialist's perspective Shanae's positive outcome was because of her opportunities, location, friends, and family. She was no longer affected by differential association, for she stayed clear of negative peers and therefore remained free of alcohol use and aggressive behaviour. Also, Shanae lived in a home, which appeared to be located in the suburbs, which eliminated her risk of experiencing anonymity. She also spent a long time in rehabilitation centers, which gave her adequate time to realize her mistakes, and strive for goals she wished to achieve. As for the benefits of a nuclear family, Shanae's mother was absent once again, because of her unforeseen death, however from the scene before prom, it appeared that Shanae still had a loving family who have helped her understand behaviours and attitudes that were approved by society. While Shanae was in the Waxter Juvenile Facility her mother was always by her side, constantly attending visits and court, encouraging and promoting her rehabilitation. A worker at the Waxter Facility said speaking about Shanae, "Her mom's caring and loving, she'll do anything for her." This support led her to work towards freedom and acquiring her goals. Shanae said once in the documentary, "it ain't all about me," meaning that she was making the effort of rehabilitating because of her mom, and not just herself. Megan on the other hand did not have such optimistic encouragement. People would tell her, "you're going to end up just like your mom." This comment decreased Megan's motivation to better herself drastically. She was also not properly rehabilitated, for in a short time she was removed from the watchful eye of administrators, to living on the streets participating in her prior negative ways. Megan was also not experiencing the love and appropriate guidance she needed after being released, that Shanae had, for she was not living with Ms. Herr, her foster mom, but was living on her own. Because of this, she was not being taught how to adequately become a member of society, but rather was living her own, corrupted way of life. "Mom was supposed to teach me the basics of life, Megan once told Garbus. Megan also did not have the stability of a permanent residence, for she moved eight times in eight months; from Ms. Herr, to Rhonda's, to Kimmies, to her father's, to her cousin's, to her aunt's house, and to other places in between.
For each particular expert; the psychologist, the anthropologist and the sociologist, there is a set method of examining the reasons behind a person's violent actions in order to expose the factors of why the girls' committed their criminal offences and to explain what caused their final outcomes. Various theories that were developed by researchers assisted in the analysis of Shane and Megan's actions. North American culture was also a factor in their wrong turns, early on in life. Unfortunate past experiences and the breakdowns of their families also contributed to the fierce and malicious acts committed by the girls. One day, once further research is conducted and more conclusions are drawn about society and its mysterious pull towards violence and aggression, more preventative pressures will be imposed, eliminating it all together.