Without intervention, teenage violence may continue into adulthood

“There has been a lot of media discussion about teenage violence over the past few years, cases in which young people have been both victims and perpetrators, which raises the question of whether this is genuinely a growing problem. Specifically, are more teenagers carrying weapons and is their behaviour more violent? Various data suggests that this may be the case, that there has been a genuine increase in violence, at least among certain groups.” 

So says Margrét Valdimarsdóttir, senior lecturer in sociology and criminology at the University of Iceland. 

Knowledge creation is a priority at UI – research conducted at the University has a broad impact and addresses many complex challenges currently facing Iceland and the world. Margrét is one of many academics at UI often called on to interpret and discuss these challenges. She has been interviewed by the media many times on the subject of violence and weapons among adolescents.  

Margrét will now tackle these issues in a lunchtime event in the UI Ceremonial Hall on Thursday 28 November. The lecture will be held in Icelandic and is one in a series of events called UI and the SDGs.

Each event in the series will focus on one of United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. Leading academics from across the University of Iceland will analyse and discuss the Goal in question, as well as related projects and research. This event is about Goal 16: peace, justice and strong institutions.  

Impact of the pandemic and financial difficulties 

When Margrét examines her own data and other research, she believes a few factors could explain the challenges we are currently facing. On the one hand, there are individual risk factors – why would one teenager be more likely than another to take a weapon to school, for example? On the other hand, there are societal factors that could explain the increase in violence.  

“For example, it’s not long since the end of the pandemic, which isolated adolescents and was particularly damaging for them. Social isolation had a huge impact on many of these young people.”

Margrét explains that many households are also now experiencing greater financial difficulties, which can have a number of consequences for families. Financial difficulties not only mean that parents have less energy to devote to their children, but literally leave them with less time to keep an eye on them.

Smart devices and social media are a new threat

Some people have speculated that violence online and violence as entertainment could encourage violent behaviour in adolescents and even children. Margrét’s answer is that violence in entertainment is not a new thing, for example violence in films or computer games, but smart devices and social media are certainly a new threat. 

“However, what is new is smart devices and social media. All teenagers have their phones with them at all times! Something else that is new are these blurred boundaries between reality and entertainment.”

Margrét says that academics have been greatly concerned about the spread of real violence online – it raises the question of whether young people who are repeatedly exposed to such violence become somewhat numb to the gravity of the situation.

We must stand together to find a solution 

Margrét explains that violence has a long-term impact on both victims and perpetrators. 

“It is vital that we look closely at all problematic behaviour in adolescents. In their teen years it is much easier for us to influence their behaviour, for interventions to be successful long term. If we do nothing, there is a risk that the behaviour will continue into adulthood.”

Margrét explains that in order to succeed in the fight against this complex problem, society as a whole will need to work together. No one person can solve it. 

“This is a job for parents, academics, afterschool clubs, schools, the police and the government.”

Margrét argues that we have come together as a nation before to face challenges and solve problems, and this one is not insurmountable if we all do our bit.