Certainly war affects everyone, but a new study by psychology professors at the University of Utah report that children who grow up in war zones are particularly affected. One finding of the study, published in the journal Child Development, is that children growing up in war zones begin to believe that stealing from others or hurting them in revenge are okay. In short, these children lose their moral centers, according to a recently published review of the study.

The study’s findings were based on interviews with 96 Colombian children and indicate that war will encourage children to steal when they feel physical threatened, almost always expect violent behavior from anyone in daily life, and view acts of violence as an option in any circumstance. Furthermore, these children exhibit a sense of distrust of others. There is a sense among these children that violence and stealing become an alternative, particularly the older the children are.

The research, however, does not address how being around childhood violence might induce violence. In nearly 50 countries worldwide, children are growing up in the midst of armed conflict, including Colombia, where nearly 2 million children have been forces from their homes over the past 15 years. Researchers are seeking the affect of these circumstances on a child’s sense of right and wrong.

Study co-author Cecila Wainryb said that "Overall, these findings unveil a reservoir of moral knowledge among war-affected children. Even the impoverished environments of war and displacement present youths with opportunities for reflecting on the intrinsic features of actions that harm others."

Wainryb and Roberto Posada, a Colombian native and doctoral student at University of Utah, say that there are a number of "vulnerabilities" for the moral compasses in these children of war. Because the children are concerned with survival, their ability to view themselves as moral agents may be compromised, and revenge may create cycles of violence.

Many of the children in the study endorsed hurting and stealing for revenge; all participants said it is wrong to hurt other or steal; most said it was wrong to hurt others or steal from them even when doing so can help ensure one’s own survival. A majority of the subjects said they expected others would steal from and hurt other people in most situations. That view was strongest among teens.

The authors cite other research that children everywhere violate moral behavior expected of them, but that those who are exposed to and perpetrate violence don’t get a chance to discuss or learn from those violations.