The 8 most common behavior problems in adolescents (and what to do)

Adolescence brings with it a series of life experiences that, for better and for worse, affect the way in which the most Young people interpret the world, interpret themselves and develop styles of behavior and management of their emotions.

Some open the door to very enriching experiences that allow them to develop their individuality at another level (for example, assuming more responsibilities and learning on their own about topics that they may already begin to understand well), but others make adolescents more prone to develop certain problematic psychological patterns in relation to their coexistence with the rest of the family and parenting strategies and mothers

For this reason, many parents note that after several years believing that they know their son or daughter well, more or less when they reach puberty they turn into someone else in a relatively short time; someone whose upbringing gives rise to difficult new challenges to face. In this article we will review the most relevant complications in this regard,

behavioral problems that often appear in adolescence, and we will see some tips to solve them in the best possible way.

• Related article: "The 3 stages of adolescence"

What are the main behavioral problems that occur in adolescence?

Adolescence is one of the most studied stages of human development in the field of Psychology due to the great amount of physical, cognitive and emotional changes that occur in it and the importance it has in the phase of adulthood.

In this sense, there are several problems at the psychological level that are characteristic of the adolescent years; It is clear that each person is different and we do not always experience the same type of experiences, but there are some general trends regarding the most common behavior problems that occur in this period. Let's see which are the most important, as well as various tips and strategies to solve them from home schooling and family life.

1. Reckless behavior

During adolescence it is relatively common for the person to carry out a series of behaviors reckless that threaten not only their own safety but also that of the people in their care around.

These recklessness are explained by the different way of seeing reality that adolescents have, and they usually have to do with the search for social approval and the dynamics of competing for attention that occur among young people of the same age or slightly older. They are more common among men than women, and can be seen as a way to claim the value of rebellion and courage in a stage of life characterized by the search for individuality and the questioning of norms "Formal".

On the other hand, usually adolescent people lack sufficient experience to make accurate judgments about the risks posed by the world around them, as well as the dangers to which they are exposed by committing reckless acts related, for example, to extreme sports, fights, drug use or even “games” specifically designed to see who dares to expose themselves more to injury or accidents

From families, a strategy that is usually effective is, beyond setting very strict rules at home (this does not prevent them from committing recklessness outside of the domestic context and that they get used to fleeing from the police environment that reigns in their home) is to provide them with references that they can come to respect and that instill the value of self-care and prudence: fictional characters or even young influencers who set a good example and in whom they can reflect.

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2. Outbursts of anger

Aggressive behaviors are also common in many adolescents, and this facilitates many fights and frequent arguments between people of the same age or even with older people. It is the result of the lack of skills to manage their emotions and to channel their anger in a constructive way and oriented to the search for concrete solutions.

Aggression can be facilitated by a wide variety of factors, from age-related hormonal and physiological changes to personal frustration from stress related to school work, dissatisfaction with one's own body (which changes quickly and sometimes in an "untidy" way), the feeling of incomprehension in the presence of people from other generations, etc.

Faced with these types of problems, it is good that as parents we teach them ways to express their discontent through constructive discussions, that they do not limit themselves to expressing frustration and nothing else. For example, criticize the actions they find annoying instead of the people who perform them, give examples about what they would like and what they do not like, show them that If they do not communicate well, the people around them cannot guess what they want, and above all, recognize and appreciate the progress they make when managing this kind of emotions.

• Related article: "Attacks of Anger: Why They Come Up and How We Can Manage Them"

3. Liability avoidance

Another of the most common behavior problems associated with the adolescent stage is avoiding all kinds of age-appropriate responsibilities, either because of fear of not knowing how to carry them out and of failing, or simply because of a lack of interest or concern.

Running away from any performance-testing activity can also be a sign that the adolescent is feeling disoriented in a period somewhere between childhood and adulthood. For this reason, it is important to give them support so that, based on our instructions and examples, they will be able to learn new tasks at home or even caring for their siblings.

But the most important thing is not to show them the "instructions" about what to do to make it easy for them; is to show them that Acquiring responsibilities is the path to psychological maturation, and this is reflected in the kind of respect we show to them.Boys and girls capable of assuming new roles that bring them closer to adulthood are also increasingly treated as young adults, something that most adolescents greatly appreciate.

5. Overly erratic behaviors

Erratic and incoherent behavior is one of the classic characteristics of adolescence, and it is explained because the person is trying to create his own personality and at the same time deal with disorientation and the lack of references that many young people experience. For this reason, it is not uncommon for them to behave from one week to the next as if they were the character in a work of fiction, which restricts their freedom and disorients their families.

These changes in behavior and constant direction in the adolescent's daily life often generate confusion or discomfort in their parents and in the long run can lead to habitual arguments or conflicts between parents and children.

To help them with this type of phenomenon, it is good that as parents we help them to realize the elements of their identity, expressing what we It seems their way of behaving, developing hobbies, relating... All this, referring to their actions and trying to avoid putting them "Labels". In this way, a more complete and nuanced self-concept will be generated in your mind And they won't feel the need to swerve to see what kind of behavior style gives them the most approval or draws the most attention in the way they want.

• Related article: "Do you really know what self-esteem is?"

6. Generational conflict

Conflicts between parents and adolescent children are a classic at this stage of human development and generally occur because the adolescent she is constructing her own personality outside of her parents and usually adopts the attitude of going against them systematically, since associates the figure of the elderly to a whole system of restrictions that limit their freedom.

At the same time, it is common for the discussions to be conceived by the adolescent as conflicts personal and ego struggles, since he still does not know how to handle disagreements well nor does he know how to regulate his emotions.

In the face of this type of problem, the most useful tool is assertive communication: showing him that he is possible to show disagreement from empathy and at the same time without biting your tongue, and always with I respect. This will allow you to better understand the thinking of previous generations and disagree with some of his ideas, but understand them for what they are and without interpreting them through cartoons.

7. Challenge to authority figures

In addition to defying parents, teenagers have a tendency to defy any other authority figure who stands in their way, whether they are teachers, other family members, and even policemen.

This phenomenon makes possible in some adolescents the appearance of behaviors contrary to the basic norms of coexistence and civility, truancy and even criminal activities.

This is one of the most complex problems to tackle, and for this reason, in general, it is recommended that families resort to psychologists who are experts in child and adolescent therapy to prevent these dynamics from harming the development of their children and leading them to failure school.

• Related article: "How to control impulsivity? 10 tips that help "

8. Social isolation

During adolescence, it is common for there to be some self-esteem problems that significantly affect the person's mood.

This phenomenon, associated with the fear of rejection or failure felt by most adolescents, can facilitate a tendency to isolate socially and withdraw into themselves for a long period of time.

Given this, families can, in addition to resorting to a psychologist (since these kinds of problems generate a lot of discomfort in young people), do everything possible so that the boy or girl can meet other young people of their age with hobbies Similar; there is no reason why you should restrict your social life to school.

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Are you looking for psychological support?

If you are interested in having professional psychological assistance for adolescents, parents or families, we invite you to contact us.

In Adhara Psychology We work adapting to each case both from face-to-face sessions in our center in Madrid or through the online mode by video call.