Serotonin In Children

Being abused as a child or witnessing the abuse of others at home can cause aggression and violence for the child later in life. When a child witnesses abuse, it becomes their horrific norm. The child may realize the harm the abuser is inflicting and feel anger toward the abuser for hurting someone they like. Serotonin is the “self-control” (Jackman) chemical which means it is in control of a significant amount of emotions. Serotonin has “long been known to play an important role in regulating anger and aggression” (“Brain Chemicals Involved”) so it is a major factor in aggressive people. With this chemical running through the mind so often in childhood, it is likely the child will just become a normally angry person. The child can often carry
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Emotional abuse is also a major player when it comes to affecting the mentalities of children. Emotional abuse can harrow on the mind of a child forever. The phrase “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me” is one of the most inaccurate sayings. Often children who grew up “in homes where they are constantly berated and belittled may experience self-confidence and anger problems” (“Emotional Abuse Signs, Symptoms and Effects”) that can later lead to them lashing out with their emotions. It is proven that children who are emotionally abused can “struggle to control strong emotions or have extreme outbursts” (“Emotional Abuse Signs, Symptoms, and Effects”) meaning that they could easily be triggered and act out aggressively when the situation presents itself. The child may not care what people think about them anymore because they have been told so many times that they are not good enough. They become distant from other people and “lack social skills” (“Emotional Abuse Signs, Symptoms, and Effects”) to make proper connections with people. Normal interactions would make the abused child feel awkward and defensive making them more likely to become
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The brain often reacts to changing environments in a negative way. These negative feelings can end up translating into aggressive behaviors. This is the reality for children in foster care. A child who is put in foster care for their whole life may never feel like they belong. The child was either taken from home or given up at birth. They are moved from house to house and rarely have a family that cares about them as much as they would if they were their own children. The parents in the house do not want the biological children to be put on the back burner, so in consequence the foster child may be left alone or left with not as much love from the foster parents. Not only does this strengthen the foster child’s resentment for adults, it makes them not be able to trust easily. This may affect the child by closing off and not being an active part of the family and feeling misplaced. Not feeling like you belong somewhere can be stressful, and the child can begin to hold anger against their parents for leaving them. They could become depressed and lack dopamine in their brain from not feeling love enough. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter in the brain that is activated when a person feels loved or pleasured. The lack of dopamine in the brain can lead to “risk for future aggression” (Mattson) and the child could become distant from everyone and lash out when spoken to because they “misinterpret the behavior of