Fighting conformism in adolescence may be an increasingly common task. Let's not forget that this is a complicated time for human beings. A lot of confusion, anguish, fears... The individual leaves childhood behind and focuses on adulthood, a step that is always complex and brings with it a lot of insecurity.
Moreover, during adolescence, the young person finishes forging his or her adult personality. But, given the restlessness they often suffer, any external opinion can be a determining factor in the way they dress, in their cultural preferences or even in the way they behave.
However, while some adolescents externalize all this with a notable patina of rebelliousness, others, instead, conform, go no further and anchor themselves in what they see in others without seeking their own path.
Development during adolescence
As we say, and as the child psychologist Erik Erikson also affirms, adolescence is marked by the search for adult identity. Or, as it is popularly said, the need to find one's place in the world.
In this process, all the actors around the child are involved. From parents to teachers and the entire community, they must help the children to develop their talents by finding their own idiosyncrasies.
What some call the adolescent emotional mountain, which seems to go on forever, does have an end. However, it will depend on the child, and also on his or her environment, to become a healthy and self-confident adult.
How to help combat conformism in adolescence?
As parents, as teachers and, ultimately, as adults, how can we help to combat conformism in adolescence? It will be a constant work that we will have to do, and we may not see results after a few years, but we must be there to:
- Motivate: young people must be encouraged to explore, to dream and to want to discover new horizons that will make their lives more fulfilling.
- Limit reasonably: we must be aware of the limits we can and cannot set. If they are excessive, we could provoke boredom, apathy or, what is worse, excessive rebelliousness and eagerness to break the rules.
- Avoid power struggles: we are adults and, therefore, we are in charge. However, the fact that we are the voice of authority does not imply that we have to enter into power struggles in which our criterion is always imposed.
- Keep communication channels open: the previous point brings us to this one. We must talk, listen openly and sincerely. The more and better we know the adolescent, the easier it will be to help him/her. But for that we have to establish sensible and sensitive dialogues in which the children can open up to talk in a frank way about their emotions, their desires, their fears and their feelings.
- Trust in our parenting skills: that is, if we have done a good job promoting proper child development during the previous years, the adolescent will surely be a self-confident, self-conceptual, responsible, self-esteemed and strong boy. Therefore, it is necessary to work with children from their earliest childhood.
Let's raise full, happy and confident adolescents
It is normal for adolescents to feel social pressure from family, peers and even school. However, if they are prepared, they will be able to follow the rules and feel an important part of their environment.
To learn more about how to combat conformism in adolescence, remember that at Logos International Bilingual International School in Las Rozas de Madrid we have a professional team of teachers and pedagogues such as Isabel Ortín, head of the Guidance Department, capable of helping any family in the proper development of their children, so that they become self-sufficient, confident and fulfilled individuals.