What Are The Norms That Affect The Lives Of Teenagers Essay

Improved Essays
Every action and attitude by others are derived from the society around him. The people around you-- and, most importantly, the groups they break up into-- affect your attitudes through the treatment the status quo causes them to give you; the norms they set. After being influenced by an ideal, other specific ideas will develop which will cause other specific actions. This kind of shaping leads to the creation of norms, obedience, and the way we interact in groups.
Attitudes control actions. For example, a teenager who feels the need to rebel against people exercising control over them (parents or teachers) will do anything to satisfy their desire to rebel and feel in control. The teenager might drink alcohol or do drugs as an act of rebellion. In this instance, the attitude is rebellion which causes the action of drinking. Drinking as a teenager is most definitely a teenage norm. It is so normal, in fact,
…show more content…
People follow these norms because they want to be recognized with the higher ups for the trends and norms they create. For example, fashion trends are certainly a type of norm. People try to be like the people around them by dressing like each other and soon enough everyone is wearing a Pink shirt. The way this trend started is that higher ups were probably shown in ads wearing the clothes or popular kid or some people of influence began to wear the clothing. Wearing Pink on its own or one hundred years ago is and was not significant. People believe that they wear Pink because they individually want to. People who wear the shirts are actually participating in a social norm to wear the shirts created by the people of influence. A small portion of society creates norms but the majority of people follow them. The attitude of society (this is called the social thinking) causes the behavior of its people (called social

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    By accepting a trend, one shows they are keeping up with the times and seek to conform to a distinct social group. People that continue to support fads and trends propel the effects of…

    • 1061 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Colin Wilson Quotes

    • 1068 Words
    • 5 Pages

    For example, just walk into a high school, you will notice the styles and attitudes of the various students are all very similar. That is because it is a known fact that if one does not conform to the majority, they will be looked down upon and outcast. Therefore, it is a natural desire to be accepted into the majority and because of that, the average man or woman will go to whatever extremes to achieve that. Not only is this prevalent in high schools, but almost anywhere you look. Fashion magazines, as well.…

    • 1068 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    We rely on these social norms because we think it is the only way society will accept us. So, many individuals do not dare to think out of the bubble and do not try to be something that is different. In, Sociology in Modules, the author, Richard Schaefer, gives some examples on why people do not override these norms and one reason is that “violation can lead to severe penalties” (68 par.3). There are some norms that us humans do violate but we will not get punished for it just odd glances. However, that reason can cause us to turn away from breaking that norm because we do not want that type of judgment.…

    • 1073 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Grocery Shopping Norm Invading someone’s personal space, shaking hands when you meet someone, and saying “thank you” when someone does something nice for you are all examples of social norms that most people practice. A social norm is a rule of behavior that is expected or considered acceptable in a group or society. From early childhood, we are taught many different social norms on how to act in a given environment or situation. Although most people follow the same social norms, some people do not.…

    • 531 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Conformity is heavily involved with the day to day activities of our lives. Almost everything we do can connect to some form of conformity. Most people do not think about how much social conformity influences their lives. People in a society conform to certain norms or traditions to blend in with everyone else. People do not conform when they are told, they conform due to the fear that they would be an outcast of their society otherwise.…

    • 1099 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The word “conformity” has many negative connotations. It is often thought of as mere mindlessness, or is referred to as “sheep-like.” However, conformity is a useful tool used by people to help them navigate uncertain situations. Conformity, according to Butler and MacManus is the “act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to (perceived) group norms” (2000). This can include the way a person acts, dresses, or talks.…

    • 1047 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    I have undertaken the task of breaking a social norm within the my house. As stated in the book, “Informal norms-unwritten standards of behavior understood by people who share a common identity” (Kendall, 76). I wanted to see my family’s reaction when I styled half of my hair and didn’t do the other side. I received negative sanctions because the reactions of my family reacting to my different hair styles. Normally on a regular day, people either take the time to style their hair or not to style their hair.…

    • 934 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    If there were no norms, we would live in a world with no rules or guidelines and that would create chaos. If someone were to break a norm they would be judged for breaking it just because it is not something that is seen everyday or it’s simply not normal. Norms are what make society unique because it creates culture, communities, and order. Different cultures or groups of people have different…

    • 1800 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    One of these traits is known as herd mentality. Herd mentality describes how humans are influenced by their peers to act accordingly, such as following popular trends and purchasing certain items. This form of influence usually occurs within the subconscious part of…

    • 862 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Conformity In Society

    • 1340 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Every society has their own set of social norms that need to be followed. Along with having a social norm in a society there are people in the society that take risks in an attempt to rebel against the societal structure. Different types of social norms spring up as gender is placed into the picture. Each gender having their own role and duties in a specific society. Which in turn may also give way to different social roles that are formed in a society in order for everyone to have a place and meaning in life.…

    • 1340 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Most people are shaped by the thoughts and ideals that society has. You learn to adjust and grow into the person you are from your surroundings, and society plays a large role in that process. There are many different cultures and they all change with time, which allows people to evolve along with it. Society is a group of people living together with common beliefs, values, and interests, so it’s understandable that we are designed by it and continue to base our lives on it.…

    • 639 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Dr Pickhealdt Summary

    • 529 Words
    • 3 Pages

    It all depends on what type of person they are and how they are raised. Some teenagers rebel to get their parents attention, but if the parents are wise about their advice, it will influence them significantly whether they listen or not. Rebellion is a contribution from right from wrong. I agree that rebellion can be a concern. As teenagers are growing up and learning, it’s best to support them instead of telling them right from wrong.…

    • 529 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Brown (2011, p.8) Discuss the application of basic concepts in sociological explanation, using appropriate examples. (2.1) Social norms are the behaviours within a society or group of people. Norms are usually unwritten rules, which social groups live by. Many norms are learned behaviours that are passed down from generation to generation.…

    • 1122 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Conformity, action in accord with prevailing social standards, is something that happens naturally in every society. Every child goes through a phase in their life where they want to change everything about themselves so they resemble someone they either idolize or see as the perfect person. In other cases when a person is disparate to an extent of standing out in society in what they feel is a bad way, they attune their lives to resemble that of those around them. People conform to their society in the interest of pleasing people around them due to their ambition to fit in with others and cooperate with societal norms even if they are sacrificing their true identities or personalities. When people conform to society they forfeit their true…

    • 1266 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Youth Culture Essay

    • 1619 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Young People in Today’s World Young people today live in a post-modern world and the prevailing cultural context in which they live may be said to be characterised by things such as individualism, materialism, pluralism, secularism, relativism and existentialism. Thus, post-modernity poses a challenge to meta-narratives (overall conceptions of history or society) or ‘stories or beliefs which provide the key to the overall meaning of life’.…

    • 1619 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays