Ecological Approach-Addressing all levels
Youth violence affects all levels of influence including the individual, family, community, and society level. Violence prevention attempts to address issues on each level including understanding motivation for violence, alternative sources of anger management, family abuse, community resources, and juvenile corrective services. Research which addresses how to best reduce youth violence is not comprehensive at this point, but there are certain protective factors that are associated with decreased involvement in violence. For the individual, a positive social orientation, academic motivations, and condemnation of violence amongst peers are protective factors. Educational programs and services that address these factors will most likely have an effect on the individual’s involvement in youth violence. This also is true on the family level where feelings of involvement, responsibility to the family, love for each other, and open communication will foster good relationships with youth.