Conformity in Teens

The teenage years are complex ones. Teens begin to establish their own autonomy using the tools they acquired throughout childhood. Peer pressure plays an important role in this process, and the opinions of peers can significantly influence the decisions a teen makes. Whether the teen conforms to this peer pressure has a lot to do with age and good old family values.

  1. Conformity

    • Peer pressure and conformity go hand-in-hand in the life of teens. While some peer influences can have positive implications that promote success, many common peer pressure scenarios are negative. The Northern Illinois University College of Education website explains that conformity is a process that occurs when teens assume the behaviors and attitudes of their peers. In the case of conformity, the decision to make these changes can occur whether peer pressure is real or imagined.

    Critical Years

    • Conformity affects some teens more than others, and according to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension website, it is during the mid-adolescent years that conformity becomes most apparent. Teens in seventh and eighth grade succumb to peer pressure more than teens in upper grade levels. This is because the older they get, teens are becoming their own person, relying less on their peers to make decisions. In the same respect, sixth-grade teens are more likely to follow the advice of their parents then their peers, according to the Nebraska-Lincoln website.

    Conformity Has its Limits

    • While it is true that teens give into peer pressure to feel part of a group, the desire for acceptance is not without its limits. In the book, ̶0;Adolescence in America: N-Z,̶1; the authors explain that conformity in teens focuses on music, clothing and language. But, when it comes to issues that are serious in nature or have moral undertones, teens of all ages tend to maintain the values instilled by their parents.

    Parents of Teen Conformers

    • Sometimes, teen conformity and parenting styles clash. When this happens, the family home can become hostile. While the teen brain is growing and developing, impulse control might be limited and risk-taking excessive. A balance of structure and respect between parents and teens can help to maintain harmony in the household. According to the Michigan State University Extension, parents might consider implementing a plan -- with the help of their teen -- listing unacceptable behaviors and their consequences. When the teen follows rules according to plan, he receives agreed upon rewards.

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