Cultural expectations can influence teenagers’ views on various aspects of life, including education, career choices, and personal values. Social influences include the effects that others’ actions have on adolescent behaviour, preferences, and opinions, arising from interpersonal interactions within society. Societal expectations can pressure teenagers to conform to norms and values, strongly influencing and shaping their self-perception and behaviour.
It takes a village to raise a child ( African proverb )
The community and societal norms significantly impact adolescent development. Teenagers are not passive observers of the world around them; they engage in social movements that seek to address some of the most pressing issues of their time. Young people are at the forefront, making their voices heard and striving to make a difference.
Key Influences on adolescent development
- Media Influence: Exposure to various media forms shapes teenagers’ attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours. Technology and the Internet influence social interactions, information access, and entertainment.
- Cultural Influences: Shared values, beliefs, norms, and practices passed down through generations within a community or society significantly impact adolescent development. Adolescents learn from their surroundings, with beliefs and values of a specific culture determining their self-perception and self-esteem.
- Societal Expectations: These put pressure on teenagers to conform to societal norms and values, strongly influencing their self-perception and behaviour.
Positive relationships between parents and teenagers provide the emotional support, security, and safety necessary for healthy development
Dr Emma Allende
Social movements affecting teenagers
- Mental Health Awareness: Teenagers today are increasingly vocal about mental health issues, challenging the stigma and advocating for openness and support for those struggling with these issues.
- Bullying: Both in-person and cyberbullying significantly affect teenagers’ social and emotional development. Adolescents join movements to counter bullying by emphasizing empathy, kindness, and supportive community spaces for victims.
- Environmental Issues and Climate Change Activism: Youth-led initiatives around climate change are growing, with teenagers at the forefront demanding action from governments and corporations.
- Multiculturalism, Racial Justice, and Equality: This movement focuses on addressing discrimination and the need for more inclusive policies, enriching adolescents’ understanding and tolerance of different perspectives.
- LGBTQIA+ Advocacy: Influences teenagers’ health and social lives, often requiring education and guidance.
- Education Reform: Students advocate for changes in the educational system, including curriculum reforms, improved mental health resources, and the reduction of student debt.
- Economic Factors: Socioeconomic status impacts access to resources, opportunities, and overall quality of life.
- Digital Privacy and Security: Teenagers are increasingly aware of issues surrounding digital privacy and security, demanding greater protection of personal information and a crackdown on data breaches and misuse.
- Globalization: Exposure to global cultures and ideas through the internet and media broadens perspectives but also presents challenges.
- Drug and Alcohol Use: Experimentation and abuse pose serious risks to teenagers’ health, with early exposure leading to long-term health and social issues.
Home Influence vs. Village Influence: Tips for Parents
Family remains the cornerstone of an adolescent’s development. Positive relationships between parents and teenagers provide the emotional support, security, and safety necessary for healthy development.
- Monitor Digital Use: Encourage healthy online habits.
- Encourage Wise Friend Choices: Discuss the importance of standing up to peer pressure.
- Be a Positive Role Model: Your behaviours, attitudes, and coping strategies significantly influence your child.
- Establish Clear Rules and Consequences: Boundaries provide structure and safety, helping adolescents navigate their freedoms responsibly.
- Encourage Community Involvement: Promote participation in community activities, sports, arts, or volunteer work to foster a sense of belonging and purpose.
It takes a village to raise a child, plus home influence to shape their character and values.
