How to Understand Angry Teenagers

Parenting teenagers is not an easy chore, especially if they are angry teenagers. Communication is key when dealing with angry teenagers. Adults must devote time and attention to young adults, listen to them and observe their behavior in order to understand why they are susceptible to emotions of anger.

Instructions

    • 1

      Remember how you felt when you were an adolescent. Today's teens face many of the same issues that have plagued teens of all generations. Throughout history, adolescence has been characterized by heartbreak, competition and identity crisis. Although angry teenagers often try to convince adults that they "just don't understand," they are themselves often guilty of underestimating an adult's ability to see the world from a teen's perspective.

    • 2

      Communicate frequently, in non-confrontational terms. Parenting teenagers requires adults to keep tabs on their kids, not only by enforcing a curfew but also by communicating frequently. This does not mean that parents should routinely scold their teens, but rather that they should get to know the young adults they are trying to raise. Often, teen anger is caused by low self-esteem.

    • 3

      Practice reflective listening skills. Anger is contagious. If you choose to respond to a teen's anger by exhibiting your own anger, you are likely to make matters worse. Instead, choose to be calm and provide a listening ear. During a conversation, paraphrase information and ask pertinent questions to show a teen that you are interested in understanding his situation. Acknowledge the teen's feelings, and help him to resolve the issues that are troubling him.

    • 4

      Read body language. Not all angry teens are vociferous and rebellious. Many teens simply seek to please others, regardless of whether or not they must suppress their own anger in order to achieve social harmony. Nevertheless, anger eventually manifests itself in body language. Author Lisa Adams counsels teens to use socially appropriate body language, remarking that "looking at the ground with your arms crossed says you're uninterested in what the other person is telling you." Perceptive adults can receive clues about a teen's anger by observing her body language.

    • 5

      Rule out the presence of underlying disorders. Temporary problems such as poor nutrition, as well as serious emotional trauma, such as that sparked by date rape, can provoke anger in a teen. In certain cases, anger is simply a symptom of greater illness. For instance, teens who abuse drugs are often unable to control the severity of their mood swings. Angry teens may even attempt to cope with depression by attempting suicide or making suicidal gestures. By searching for the source of a teen's anger, you may be able to give him or her a new lease on life.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Teen Leadership Activities
      Leadership activities for teens will help them find a self identity as well as work collectively with other kids their age. According to Lesson Planet, introducing teens to leadership activities can help to inspire learning and self development. Lead
    • Problems Faced by Teenagers
      When a child becomes a teenager, he reaches an interesting point in life where he faces a number of internal and external problems. Not only is he in limbo between being both a child and a young adult at the same time, but he faces new pressures from
    • How old does a person have to be become preteen?
      Theres no official age for preteen, but its generally considered to be the time between 9 and 12 years old. However, its important to remember that this is just a general guideline. Every child develops at their own pace, so some children might enter