Teens and What They Want

Teenage years range from the age of thirteen, to nineteen and it’s the most volatile period of one’s life. Adolescence is part and parcel of the teenage years, and the body will undergo major changes during that time. Parallel to the physical changes, there will be psychological advancements too. No wonder teens have it rough!

Parents label teenage behavior in various ways. Some of the words used are illogical, irrational, incorrigible, impulsive, irate and downright impossible! It all stems from rebelliousness that’s very much a part of teens everywhere. Both girls and boys display such behavior, in varying frequencies and intensities. Parents and teens, it seems, cannot agree on most things. Why does this happen?

Studies show that the teenage brain is undergoing radical changes. The component that makes rational decisions, realizes consequences and solves problems is still in formation. Although the brain is considered completely formed or mature at that age, the part involved in thought processing is still being linked up to the rest of the brain. So, it’s left to the ‘emotion handling’ part of the brain to deal with most of the information reaching the brain.

Now you can understand why teenagers usually get emotional and worked up over seemingly minor things and why they are so sensitive at times. The developments in the brain can also make a teenager act out-throw tantrums and generally react in anger. They can even be capable of risky behavior because they lack the capacity to fully process information, which is turn in needed to make responsible decisions.

Now parents can understand why it is sometimes so difficult to get through to their teens. It’s as if they almost speak and understand another language. Add this to their maturity level and the general boisterous nature and you’ve got a lot on your hands! But at least you understand where teen behavior comes from and that’s a start.

For the teens, life appears to be an uphill ride most of the time and they can’t wait to be adults. They don’t fully realize the changes occurring within them and within others in their age so there is a lot of confusion. So what a teenage really wants from adults is patience, understanding and also a bit of letting go. They want to be treated like adults, although they are not quite mature. They don’t want to be nagged and they don’t want daily advice sessions. Teens crave for respect from their parents, although they sometimes mess up the chance to really earn it.