To address the risk factors that contribute to the development of violent behavior, they must first be identified. Recent findings have led to the development of several models for organizing risk factors, that is, the situations, experiences, attitudes, and behaviors that put children at risk for violence.
Resiliency is a relatively new concept.
Researchers began to identify the protective factors that contributed to this resiliency. Just as risk factors exist in different contexts, so do protective factors. The following section offers a more detailed description of risk and resilience. The emphasis is on the risks to children who are direct witnesses of violence and those who are victims of abuse or neglect. It strongly suggests that the efforts to promote family wellness will also positively influence and support the prevention of youth violence.