are teenagers influenced by friends?

Question

we have a debate on this topic actually... and our team has to propose that they(or rather we) are influenced by our friends...what are your views and please help us on this please..

thank you

Answer 1

Some teenagers (some people, regardless of age) are influenced by others more than other teenagers/people are; but I think to some degree even the most independent- and strong-minded teenager can be at least subltly influenced by friends.

For people who don't feel "solid" enough about themselves, there can be a tendency to look at anyone and everyone else and see them as people to be emulated; and people without a solid sense of self can believe that whatever anyone else is or does has to be better and cooler than what he, himself, is.

It takes tremendous strength for even an adult to be open and honest about views that are not popular. It takes super-human effort for teenagers to be the ones who are different.

Also, though, teenagers live with a code of what is cool or admirable and what isn't. Certain groups or even whole schools or whole generations of people can subscribe to some of these codes; and teenagers, more than any other age group, are more likely to allow what they do, wear, or believe to be governed by some of these group codes of what is acceptable or cool.

There are, of course, exceptions. Not all teenagers move in one, big, homogenous, unison; but what I'm talking about is a general way of how things go.

As with any group, there will always be leaders and followers. There are always more followers than there are leaders. Even leaders, though, can sometimes be influenced in one way or another.

I think there are a few very strong-minded teenagers who are close to (not completely but close to) immune to the influence of friends; but even the most sensible, strong-minded teenager still has the inevitable insecurities about his appearance, values, popularity, etc., that even this teenager will not be completely immune to the influences of his friends.

Finally, I'd venture to say that there could be a teenager who is so removed from the influence of friends that he would not be influenced, but I think this would be a kid who didn't entirely belong with his group of friends or didn't quite belong when it came to his classmates - and maybe the fact that he could 100% un-influence-able would be a sign that he had emotional issues. In other words, the loner-misfit who isn't really close friends with anyone is not likely to be influenced by others.

Answer 2

Yes, I think teenagers are definately influenced by friends. Teenagers are at a vulnerable age where they are establishing their sense of self, finding their autonomy, etc. Because this is such a vulnerable time of life, they tend to do what their friends encourage them to do because it gives them a strength from outside of the family relationship. This is important to them as they are in the process of breaking away from parental influences, and becoming adults. Hope this makes sense - I seem to be at a loss for words this morning for some reason...

Answer 3

Yes for friends form the environment during the formative years of teenagers. And environment influences behaviour. A good friend can help one sail smoothly through traumatic times while an insensitive one can mar one for life with their barbs.

Answer 4

ya teenagers r influence bu their friends because as they grow up they want a companion of there age to whom they can share their views & disscuse their problems , & we get that person in our classmate or a friend . they share the things to thier friends which they don't feel like sharing with the parents . the answer is yes are teenagers influenced by friends.

Answer 5

of course all teens are. teens are mostly with their friends( hanging out and stuff) so your peers views do affect you. thats the time when a person is extremly curious and without good guidance they can easily go astray.the clothes you wear, the songs you listen to. they all reflect the company you keep.
a friend learns sth new and the whole group understands the issue at hand...
they are the shoulders to lean on, a helping hand. sb you share your ideas. with friends your instincts and abilities blossom...

Answer 6

oh i'm glad you didnt get stuck with the side of " not being influenced" . because tahts impossible to argue. teenagers are at the time of life when peer pressure is most felt. you are trying to figure out who you are , and constantly you copy each otheres example in order to figure out what is typical, normal behavior.

Answer 7

Yes they are...Its called peer pressure

Peer groups are contemporaries of the same status

Answer 8

yes that it called peer pressure.that happens more as kids, then gets worse in teens. most people grow out of it when they become adults

Answer 9

well yes most of them r but some of them r not becoz they r "confident" in themselves but not very and they can say "no" to peer pressure thats alli can tell u from my eperience....

Answer 10

yes