Teen Violence
American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Psychological Association (APA) address teen violence through the lens of Adolescent Aggression or Youth Violence, they generally define it as a spectrum of harmful behaviors ranging from verbal threats and bullying to physical assault and weapon use. It is characterized as a complex public health issue where a minor (typically ages 10–19) intentionally uses force or power to threaten or harm others. Counselors emphasize that teen violence is rarely an isolated event; rather, it is a learned behavior influenced by a combination of individual, relationship, community, and societal factors, requiring holistic intervention rather than just disciplinary action.
