Every little girl dreams about her wedding day, but no one dreams about divorce. It can have lasting affects on everyone involved. Some studies have linked divorce to social awkwardness in children, that can lead to aggressive behavior. Elliot Rodger, a boy who murdered 6 and injured 14, blamed his parent’s divorce for his rampage. It’s important to note that while divorce can lower self esteem and cause mistrust in relationships, horrible aggressiveness like Rodger’s is rare. No one really knows what causes mental issues like his.
Key Takeaways:
- The narrative is that divorce can be profoundly harmful to children, but in reality, most children are able to cope well.
- Some children do experience separation anxiety and minor distress if they are not receiving adequate attention from divorced parents.
- However, we still do not have a way of accurately predicting when violent behavior will occur.
“Rodger sent this manifesto to his parents and therapist before the killing spree, blaming them for his sexual frustrations.”