What is a teenage issue?? Help?

Question

its for a school talk thing im doing a documentry on an issues that surrounds teens

Answer 1

cliques. its typical and you can use loads of popular movies as examples.  

Answer 2

Depression

Peer Pressure

Boyfriend/Girlfriend

Parents

Homework

Self-Image

Friends

Family (other than parents)

Self-Mutilation

College

Suicide

Sports

Answer 3

relationships, boyfriend/girlfriend problems for the standard/typical teen, eventhough I was never in that category and probably never will

Answer 4

Teenage Issues



A fundamental part of growing up is the influence of those around us. This entry looks at the issues of peer pressure and individuality. Before we look any further, it's worth looking at an experiment based on Asch's studies in 1951.

In the experiment, ten teenagers are shown pictures with three lines of different lengths, and they have to put their hand up when whoever is running the experiment points to the longest line.

However, nine of the ten have been secretly told beforehand to go for the second option, regardless of whether it is the longest line or not. The test is on the tenth person - will s/he go with the one they know is the longest line, or follow the crowd in choosing the second option even though it is wrong?

One set of results for the above was,

The first time, the tenth person looked a little unsure, but then followed suit even though he knew the answer was incorrect.

The second time, they were reminded again that they had to put their hand up for the longest line... this time the tenth person took longer to come to a decision, but still felt the need to go with the group although he knew they were still wrong.

Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is still as common today as it was in the 1950s - maybe even more so with the increasing importance attached to music, computer games and fashion. At the start of your teens, you start new schools, experiment with new things and everyone is expected to be clones all doing the same thing all of the time; if you don't you get left out or bullied but then as you get older attitudes change. Whether you go with peer pressure or not you still get hassle - just in different ways.

As an indication of peer pressure and individuality, here are some rough guidelines which outline how we develop our identities through the crucial teenage period.

From the ages of 11 - 12, full group identity is predominant.

From the ages of 12 - 13, full group identity is still at the fore with elements of individual identity creeping in.

At ages 13 - 14, we develop stronger personal identities while still holding on to a group identity too.

At ages 15 - 16, we have usually carved out our own identities within a group.

From the age of 17, onwards we have usually created our own full identity, either in or out of a group.

Here is one Researcher's advice on how to deal with the constant shifting of group dynamics. You never know, it could work for you...

I'm lucky in that I managed to stay friends with everyone, both in the 'cool' crowd and those who weren't. It has to be said that I have much more fun now with those who weren't considered cool as they're not afraid to act as themselves rather than 'Sweet Valley High'1 stereotypes.

With the other group, we started clubbing at about 15 and went out to pubs even earlier and there was much more pressure within the group to be something you weren't. I've since been told by several of what was the 'cool' crowd that they really respect me for being able to handle both sides to the pressure and quite a few of them have said that they would have liked to have been able to have my way of thinking and be friends with everyone.

In my leaving book I had about 60 messages, probably 50 of which were sincerely written by true friends. In the 'cool' crowds leaving books there were about 15 messages half of whom I know were insincere as they have spent the past two years moaning about each other and saying how they can't wait to get away from each other. So in response to conforming to peer pressure in order to fit in, while it might seem necessary in your early teens, as the years go on you'll be much happier being yourself as you'll end up with much more respect.

Parental Guidance

The following Researcher's story has a lesson for parents or guardians of teenagers who will go to any lengths to become part of a group. The lesson seems to be; understand what is going on, be compassionate but know where to draw that very fine line. It's better to know where your charges are and what they are doing.

Peer pressure is not something I have lots of time for. I don't generally tend to think that because other people do something, I should. But, I think it's my right to choose, not my parents.

When I was about 17, my group of friends started pubbing and clubbing on a regular basis. My mother wasn't terribly pleased with the idea of underage drinking on my part, but she didn't try to stop me. My friend's parents, however, didn't like the fact that our group of friends saw a good time as going out to the pub and having a few drinks, then going on to a club or something and dancing until 2am. They always came to pick her up at around 11.30pm or something. So when her 18th birthday came around, she said she was staying over at a friend's house, and that they would probably go to the cinema - something her parents would allow - they didn't want to let her do what her peers did. This was a l