Rebellion is one of the most notable characteristics of adolescence and is the cause of many conflicts between parents and children. The two most common types of rebellion are against society (rebellion of nonconformity) and against adult authority (rebellion of non-compliance).
In both types, rebellion usually attracts the attention of an adult. In this Psychology-Online article, we show you what to do with rebellious teenagers. We will also explain the possible causes and consequences of this phenomenon as characteristic as rebellion.
The young man boasts of his independence with respect to what parents want, in many cases getting their disapproval. This is the reason why rebellion, which is simply behavior that deliberately opposes norms (whether social or parental), It is well seen by adolescents and badly by parents, since in addition to hindering their role as guides and supervisors, it can cause more damage serious.
Your child can do many things to push your patience to the limit, for example: dangerous driving, drinking, shopping excessively, being aggressive, or having a complete disregard for rules and regulations discipline.
Almost all teens go through a rebellious phase at some point in their lives. Adolescence is a time when you are no longer a child, but not an adult, and there arises the need to have a own identity, of looking for a place to belong because the feeling of being there in the middle can generate a lot of confusion. The adolescent may not understand the new feelings, emotions, situations, or obligations that are emerging. Not knowing how to act can lead to fear and rebellious behavior.
Although teenagers think that rebellion is an act of independence, it really is not. It is an act of dependency. The adolescent depends on others to act doing the opposite.
For this reason, a way of prevent rebellion It is the true independence built through the acceptance and construction of new challenges to grow as a person. The adolescent who has challenges or aspirations and who has the support of his parents does not need to rebel to redefine or transform himself.
Something that can help parents cope with this phase is trying to remember whether they have experienced the same emotions as teenagers. Some tips that can help raise rebellious children and dealing with the adolescent in a positive and less confrontational way are:
Maintain open communication with the adolescent
Adolescence is a stage of changes that can generate stress in the young person. So it's important that his parents are there to talk about his concerns, challenges, etc. Sometimes it seems to you that your child is doing a drama of the smallest and most insignificant things and you may feel that your patience is running out. However, try not to give up, be patient and listen to him. Show him that whatever happens, he can approach you and tell you about his concerns. Once you show him that you can listen to him without interrupting him, he will reach out to you when he needs it. The best people to guide a teenager are his parents.
Encourage and appreciate him as an individual
The biggest struggle your child has in adolescence is maintaining or building the feeling of individuality. Help him achieve that self-esteem by looking at him as a person, instead of just thinking of him as a son. Encourage him to do things his own way and to try new challenges, albeit within limits and safely. It values their efforts and their willingness to learn and grow, and guides their quest for self-fulfillment. Try to respect your child for who he is, rather than showing him what he should be and what he has to do.
Make him understand the rules and consequences
In a stage of change such as adolescence, something fundamental is to know what is going to happen when a rule is not followed. Since new situations appear and, in many of them, the adolescent will break the rules to see what happens, just like he did when he was little. To prevent these unruly behaviors, limits can be anticipated through good communication. Tell him about the specific rules of the house and make sure they are realistic. Establish the consequences and penalties that will happen if the rules are broken. In this way, we can prevent certain unruly behaviors
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
