Teenagers: Selfishness Caused by Negative Influences

Teenagers: Selfishness Caused by Negative Influences Teenagers today are seemingly more self-centered and irresponsible. They act as though their parents owe them when they are actually the ones that gave them life. They do not want to follow the rules of society and prefer to go against the “norms.” They live in a world where they live for the moment, with no thought of what tomorrow may bring. Several negative influences, such as, peer pressure, lack of parental involvement, television, and lack of church attendance can cause teenagers focus on themselves. For example, in today’s society, teenagers are subject to extreme peer pressure. When they attend parties, they feel pressure to drink and do drugs in order to fit in. Drugs have become more readily available through the years. Anyone can get their hands on marijuana and alcohol. Fake ID’s can be gotten by anyone who knows where and how to get it. Teens can get older friends to buy alcohol, and also some of the teen’s parent’s provide it for them. Teenagers attend parties now that they shouldn’t ever be associated with. At these parties there are things such as drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and sexual activity. Drug abuse includes pill popping, injecting needles into your system, sniffing, and smoking. Also, a teenager’s curiosity about the opposite sex and peer pressures can lead one into having premarital sex. They all want to know what the boy or girl they are interested in is thinking. They may be pressured by the fact that “everyone is doing it.” Most teenagers do not think of the consequences of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases that goes along with having premarital sex. Further, many of the issues with teenagers today stems from lack of parent involvement. It can lead to poor academic performance, emotional problems, as well as selfishness. Many parents are working one or more jobs to provide a higher standard of living for their families. When they are home, they have so many things that have to be taken care of, such as bills and cleaning, there does not leave much time to spend with the family. Parents do not try to make a connection with their children. Often, teens whose parents are not at home feel as if their parents are not interested in their life, because they are not there for one-on-one interaction and therefore they cannot discuss things like school, peers, and dating. Parents may even offer their children drugs and alcohol. Parents can have a huge effect on how the child turns out. Additionally, television also has so many negative effects on teenagers. So many television shows involve sex, drugs, and violence- especially shows like music videos on MTV and shows that are on before a teen’s bedtime. Music videos show young girls dressed in a risqué way. This causes most young girls to assume that dressing in revealing clothing is acceptable. It actually sends the wrong message out to people about them. It will change their self image of themselves. Rappers form thoughts in teenage girls’ heads to make them feel as if it is okay to be called negative names like singers do. This also causes most teen boys to think there is no problem in doing the same to teen girls. Teens seem to consider other teens “cool” if they do bad things and put others down. It is more common now for teens to lie to their parents.
Finally, teens’ not being involved in church is a big issue. They think it is okay to skip and not go. Church has positive influences on our teens. It teaches them to love, care, and look out for one another. Being involved in church activities also keeps them occupied and away from drugs, alcohol, and gang related violence. They learn that talking down to people and hurting other people’s feelings is not kind. You should help one another and respect your elders. Most teenagers have little or no respect for adults. Church teaches them not to disrespect. It also teaches them to forgive. Forgiving is a way to move on from past things that have happened and possibly cause bad things to go on in your personal life. Peer pressure, lack of parent involvement, television, and lack of church involvement are some major reasons teenagers are selfish. Teens may have problems with one or more of these factors. Although teen’s behavior is worse now, they also have to deal with more pressures than their parents did growing up. Parents give way more freedom to their teenagers now than they used to give them. Teenagers take advantage of the freedom they have and abuse it. Teenagers exposed to this at an early age may be subject to problems later in life.