Infants and children need to learn to calm themselves, feel empathy for others, and develop good language and problem-solving skills as they mature and grow.  The establishment of secure attachment between infant and parent or other consistent caregiver helps to ensure that children learn these developmental tasks. 

Although not always the case, behaviour problems tend to flourish in homes where discipline is inconsistent, where there is little supervision, where parenting practices are coercive, and where there are parental mental health problems such as depression or a history of conduct disorder. 

While the occasional outbursts of Anger and Aggression do occur in otherwise healthy children and adolescents, it is when these behaviours start to escalate, when friendships are negatively affected, or when siblings or the whole family are distressed, that families should get professional help. 

Persistent Anger and Aggression can be symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, conduct disorder, or oppositional defiant disorder.  Or they may be manifestations of other disorders; for instance, aggressive behaviours may occur in children who are anxious.