Why do teens and adolescents rebel so much?
Ask the Experts by Georgia Michalopoulou, Ph.D
The teen years are a time of great change and intense growth, where many physical, cognitive and psychological changes are occurring. These changes often cause confusion and upheaval for both the parent and child. A parent, who is used to their younger child being cooperative and eager to please, may now be faced with an adolescent who opposes and asserts more independence. These behaviors are often part of normal development.
Constructing an identity, developing autonomy and achieving separation from parents are skills that adolescents need to master in order to grow into the distinct individuals they will become.
To navigate these challenging years, parents must keep the lines of communication open, be ready to listen to their teen's worries and concerns and to provide support. Providing support however, does not always mean agreement with the teen's requests. Parents have the responsibility to set appropriate limits to ensure their adolescent's safety. When conflict arises parents may choose to pick their battles in order to preserve their relationship with their adolescent and to avoid constant confrontation and arguments.
Knowing which battles to fight becomes easier when parents communicate clearly their expectations based on the family's cultural values and beliefs. For example, if a teen decides that he or she wants to dye their hair another color some parents may feel that this behavior is not harmful and decide that it is acceptable while other parents may find such behavior offensive to their cultural/religious beliefs and thus unacceptable.
When dealing with rebellious, defiant behavior, it is important for parents to evaluate if the rebellion is an expression of a normal developmental process or a sign of a more serious problem.
If an adolescent consistently exhibits disrespectful, angry or violent behavior with authority figures, or is disruptive in school or in the community it may be worthwhile to seek the advice of a professional.
Sometimes rebellion can be a sign of a more significant problem such as depression, separation anxiety or even obsessive compulsive disorder. An evaluation with a behavioral expert may unlock underlying issues and lead to a successful treatment of the problem.
Information provided by Georgia Michalopoulou, Ph.D.Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Chief of Staff, Child Psychiatry/Psychology, DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan
DMC Children's Hospital is a member of The Family Center's Association of Professionals.
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