Peer influence in adolescence is an issue every generation deals with.
Teenagers need a long period of time in order to learn all the values concerning their moral duties. Childhood should be regarded as a sort of progressive socialization governed by the family values. Cooperative spirit, attitudes, habits and behaviors are transmitted thanks to the family members.
But teenage children are also “exposed” to peer influence in adolescence. Every parent should understand that teenagers want to look more mature and they are very likely to be driven by a wide range of negative emotions or even rebellion towards their own family.
Peer influence in adolescence can become determinant mainly because the teenagers tend to behave according to the tendencies they notice in their own groups. By doing so, they hope to earn a more honorable status among their friends.
Every group of friends is likely to have a leader: a charismatic teenager who has more self-esteem than others. Every group may have a negative or positive influence on your teenager child. But parents tend to reduce every group strictly to its negative influences. However, peer influence in adolescence may also play a positive role when it comes to your teenager child’s behavior and development.
Children who are rejected by other groups are more likely to end up in an group that has negative behavior. Therefore, parents will play a very important role because they need to make their child understand and cherish his/her own qualities. The teenager needs to accept himself/herself in order to abandon the constant need to obtain other persons’ attention and consideration.
Parents should understand that peer influence in adolescence is important in order for the teenager to start discovering his/her true identity.
Some teenagers are constantly looking to make friends that they think are better than them. Other teenagers are constantly looking for groups with negative behaviors. The members of a group can have a major contribution to creating and designating the individuality of every teenager. This is why peer influence in adolescence is so important.
The teenager identifies with his/her group and this will provide him/her with more security. Negative and positive influences may come from the group and the teenager will have to assert himself/herself in order to stand out in his/her constant search for identity. The parents should try and monitor the child’s entourage in order to make sure that his/her friends do not have destructive influences on their teenager child.
Related Resources
Strategies to Decrease Ninth Grade Isolation
Is Your Teen an Outsider in School?
How to Monitor Adverse Peer Influence on Your Children
