Why Are Teens so Full of Angst?

Question

I had asked a question about teens (girls) underdressing and was accused of being a catholic freak by one of them. I don't understand why they are so full of angst at the world.
Do any adults or teens agree that they are out of control? Is it the parent's fault, the school's they go to, or what do you think?

By the way, you only prove my point if you're a teen and you call me stupid or whatever else you might say that's negative. I'm not asking you to agree with me, I'm just stating a question. What's your deal?

Note:
There is definately a difference in teens now then say there was ten years or more ago. I can't agree it's progress, teens think the world is owed to them, and many of the teens I knew growing up weren't so disrespectful, uncouth and sexually active. It's not progress, it is a lack of moral values. Sure, there is confusion but that gives no right to their attitudes or to think the world is owed to them. That's just my opinion.
Parents need to do their job.

Also---I'm not generalizing teens as a whole, I'm talking about the select ones that would fit into this catagory, not all teens are like that, I know.

Also---I'm not generalizing teens as a whole, I'm talking about the select ones that would fit into this catagory, not all teens are like that, I know.

Also---I'm not generalizing teens as a whole, I'm talking about the select ones that would fit into this catagory, not all teens are like that, I know.

Answer 1

They are a Godless generation. That says it all.

Answer 2

Ditto on hormones; Have an 18 year old son, who's a great kid, smart, fun, has always had a lot of freedom; friends over all the time, started a job he likes, going to college soon, but recently it's been "I;m 18 now, I can stay out as late as I want"; my response: Honey, you usually stay out till midnight, 11pm, 1230-ish, no problem, but at your age, you can't GO anywhere at that hour, so why look for trouble with cops stopping you for something"; retort: "I just wanna cruise with "XYZ friend"; I mean, You tell me, what's up- what can they possibly be doing, during the week in the wee hours(not that they really "do it" a lot)? When I was his age, I was drinking, carousing, (hey, it was the 70's/80's), traveling Europe-doing a lot crazier stuff than "cruising";it just seems the world has become more dangerous, information is constantly being tossed out in so many media forms, it's just got to be really strange growing up as "The Turn of The Century" generation....hmmmmm

Answer 3

It's okay to be offended by something you regard as being in bad taste, but, on the other hand, it's also natural for teenage girls to be defensive about what they believe to be acceptable clothing. You each have your own standards and growing up means having to be able to show each other tolerance. I wouldn't say either of you were right or wrong. You were each doing what was right for you. This will not change with adulthood. You'll just both be better adjusted to accepting each individual's reality. That is, if you're both well-adjusted adults. Some never are.

Many factors contribute to teen angst and apathy: fluctuating new hormones, too much or too little parental control, pressure, or concern, too much anxiety from peer pressure, rejection/inconsideration/etc. from someone you may have a huge crush on, and the realization that you're not going to be a kid forever and pretty soon it's going to be your turn to have to do something to help this sick, messed up old world.

If someone goes out of control, that's something they ultimately did on their own. That's an unfortunate byproduct of growing up, having to accept responsibility for one's own actions

If it makes you feel any better, we all went through this, your parents, grandparents, and on down the line. Most of us survived relatively intact.

Answer 4

Maybe it's hormones. We want to find our place in this messed-up world and so many different things cause problems for us and make life more difficult. Also, I'm a teen girl and I do not underdress. Why do so many adults seem to think that all teens are all the same?

Answer 5

I think it is a combination of hormones, lack of social values, and poor parenting. So many kids aren't parented at all. Also, their hormones tend to make them a bit wacky. My kids are just getting to that teen stage, and their hormones are bugging me. The social values are just crumbling. Things that used to be taboo, girls think nothing of anymore. The general social climate created by hollywood and the media can be blamed for that. But it really all comes down to the parents. Some parents teach their kids, and some people ignore them. The lucky ones with parents that care about them learn to control themselves. When I see an out of control teen, I wonder where the parents are. Often, parents are so busy trying to be their kids friends that they forget their primary responsibility to teach. That's mly opinion anyway.

Answer 6

I think the main reason is hormones and I'm not kidding. There is also a lot of pressure on teens in general (school, growing up, social pressure). I can see where a lot of it comes from. If you asked me to go back to a particular time in my life, I would NOT go back to being a teen. I think people in general underestimate how much stress teens are under.

Answer 7

The teens have earned the name Generation Me. They could be the most self-centered generation in a long time. I don't know that it is a single factor that has caused it , but there is definitely a bit of attitude out there. I think it is a combination of changes in parenting, school, and the media that has created the problem.

Answer 8

It would be too easy to simplify this answer so I'll just say that it is a combination of things.

One powerful response I've heard is that teens, like adults too who cannot pretend to be angstless often rely on bad sources of information. They often don't test their theories because they live in an emotional time in their life and are driven by emotional speeches, opinions over sheer reason.

Of course, since teens are rarely introduced to a scientific, academic environment like college with an open mind, they rely on friends in the meantime. Friends, like they, are in a similar mindstate and stunt growth.

Perhaps the great solution would be to reintroduce teens to their elders. We neglect them too often and also lessen their reliability and damage their integrity with ageism descrimination. This isn't a good example to set and kids are starved of some great truths they would encounter with older Americans.

One, that they aren't suffering nearly as bad as they would think.

Two, that despite suffering in debilitated elders, there is a sense of positive optimism and wisdom that come with a lifetime of experience.

I sincerely hope we don't just visit them at the nursing home on holidays or we lose too much.

Answer 9

Their not full of angst, teens act based on how they are raised. If someone is raised a certain way, they frown upon those who are different. If a group of people is raised the same and engages in the same behavior, one person different makes an easy target for that group.

Also you must add in the influence of parents, society, music, tv, and culture at any given time.

Answer 10

Were just trying to find ourselves. It depends on how you asked the question. Tone is everything...sometimes adults don't mean it but you talking to us like were three. Or like you think we'll never amount to anything or were the spawn of SAINT. Any of these will get you the response you got. Maybe your doing it unknowningly....maybe she was just having a bad day...you don't know what half the girls in high school have to put up with know a days. Maybe you were just her breaking point...It A LOT harder being a girl know a days in school is harder than it was when you were in school...maybe you could be more sensitive to that.

Answer 11

Do you remember being a teen?

Its awful. You are trying to grow into who you are while hormones are racing, not allowed to find partners and actually have sex. Wondering who you are and what your place in the world is. You get almost no rights as a teenager. Very little money too mostly.