Teenagers and Moral Standards

Significance

• A person's moral standards are those by which she measures right and wrong. Whether it's the temptation to cheat off of a classmate's test or treating others a certain way, your teen's moral standards are what guide her daily actions. Helping your teen to develop moral standards means she takes the values you teach with her through her teenage years and into adulthood. Leave her without clear moral standards altogether, and you'll notice it in her behavior. Instead of constantly nagging at your teen to get her to behave, helping her create steady morals can help her behave because she wants to and believes it's the right thing to do.

Development

• Different ages mean different levels of understanding when it comes to morality. According to Dr. Thomas Lickona in his book "Raising Good Children," younger teens -- those just entering adolescence -- behave because they want others to think well of them. Teens in high school are more motivated by the expectation and the idea that they are a part of a system. Older teens and those graduating from high school create their moral compasses around their own conscience and what feels right or wrong intrinsically. It's important to address your teen's moral development and work on a level he understands at his particular age.

Influences

• While your teen's age and developing brain are responsible for a self-made moral compass, there are other influences at work that sway your teen's standards one way or the other. For instance, her group of friends can have a hefty effect on her moral standards, as does your influence as a parent, mainstream media, schools, teachers and societal norms observed around her, notes Richard Weissbourd in a 2012 Harvard Education Letter. It's up to you how much of an effect you want outside influences to make. By helping your teen create a steady set of moral standards, she'll be less likely to be influenced by those who teach a lack of morals.

Promoting Development

• As a parent, you can start now to ensure that your teen develops moral standards that are deemed acceptable by you and your beliefs. By creating specific and consistent rules, your teen learns what's important to you and eventually, to him as well. Set standards for education, socialization and free time in your home for your teen to follow. In the meantime, give him choices so he can start to develop his own belief system. You can also reward acceptable behavior through praise to teach your teen the rewards of morality as he finds his own way through the tumultuous teen years.