Does Boredom Cause Trouble in Teens?

925 Words2 Pages

Does boredom cause trouble in teens? Boredom can be defined as the state of being weary or restless due to lack of interest. Some believe that being bored can cause trouble, while others believe that boredom can be channelled into good deeds and positive activities. Which is correct? Does boredom lead to trouble? Or does boredom lead to helping others and bettering oneself? What if the answer is both? Boredom does not lead to trouble in all cases, but it can not be denied that in others it does. The real answer of what boredom leads to lies within the disciplines brought unto those who are bored. If a child is raised correctly, and disciplined properly, he/she will not get into trouble when bored, he/she will, instead, know how to control his/her impulses and channel that boredom into a productive activity. Children spend the first six years primarily with their parents, but they will eventually go to school. The friends they make at school become their peers, and the majority of trouble children/teens get into is due to peer pressure. Peer pressure is when a peer or group of peers influences another person to do something they would not normally do. This can be something as small as changing your clothing style, or something as large as stealing and underage drinking. (Langholt) In large cities one of the best examples of peer pressure is gangs. Gangs force their members to participate in activities, usually illegal, in order to gain acceptance. Acceptance is one of the social needs described by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, meaning people are willing to do almost anything required to fit in and fulfill that need (Mcleod). This willingness to conform leads to a lot of trouble, especially in teens. When you are willing to blind... ... middle of paper ... ...e “troublemakers” are. Keep them away from them. Teach your kids why you do not want them befriending those peers of theirs. (McLeod) Refrain from the cliche “because I said so”. This tends to lead to rebellion against the parent. If you treat teens like they are adults, they will grow to be responsible citizens because you showed them respect. And, they will return the favor. And, they will stay out of trouble. Works Cited Langholt, A.. N.p.. Web. 31 Mar 2014. . McLeod, S.. N.p.. Web. 28 Mar 2014. . Blaise, Pascal. N.p.. Web. 31 Mar 2014. . Wallis, Lucy. "Is 25 the New Cut-off Point for Adulthood?" BBC News Magazine 23 Sept. 2013: n. pag. Web. 02 Apr. 2014.

Open Document