Do role models contribute to lack of integrity in teens?

Question

yes or no and why?

its violation if u repeat it in the same catagory i asked in different catagories wow i didnt think it bothered people so much anyway sorry!

ouch i must say the teen who answered this is right in some way. It could be applied to some adults as well not just teenagers. although i do think you are very smart for a 13 year old not many other 13 year olds think or act the way you do.

Answer 1

No it is the weak or strong minded teen that will make the decision. Weak people become followers and the strong lead. If your child is following the wrong crowd it is your child you should blame. Weakness is no excuse.

Answer 2

Absolutely!!
If a child doesn't have a role model growing up, then they don't know what they are supposed to do and become.
For most children, the role models are supposed to be the parents, but for many it falls to others: teachers, clergy, etc.
Either way, it's fine as long as they have someone as a role model.
Most of the youngsters in prison today came from broken homes where there were no role models available.
But just because a person has both parents at home, doesn't mean that they will turn out okay. Being there is only half the job - actually being a role model is the other half. And if a parent realizes that they can't be a proper role model, then it is up to them to direct their children to the proper ones.
This is why we have so many "rich celebrity" types now who are total failures at life. Their parents either were never available for them to learn from, or the role models that they presented to the children are exactly what the kids grew up to be. It's that the parents kept is more secluded while the kids are making it a public display.
Either way, the right role models could have prevented all the craziness and lack of integrity, whether they are fallen stars or just behind bars.

Answer 3

Well, that's a pretty wide question, isn't it?

If Lindsay Lohen, Brittany Spears, Paris Hilton, Eminem, 50 Cent, etc. are their role models, yes, I think so. They are learning that it is cool to act like law-breaking, disrespectful fools and that you can have lots of money and do virtually nothing but party 90% of the time.

If the child's role model is a parent, an older sibling, a friend, a mentor, a teacher, another relative, certain political figures, even historical figures, or just someone who HAS integrity, no, those role models are good and healthy, and promote integrity.

Role models are important. But if you want to encourage and nurture integrity, the first step is to have a role model with integrity. Like any other personality trait, the best way to learn it is from example.

BTW, to the person who said to compare role models to those 20 years ago, it must be mentioned that role models 20 years ago were people like Madonna, Michael Jackson (whether he actually molested anyone, he's certainly guilty of some behaviors I wouldn't want my kids or anyone I know to emulate), Magic Johnson (great man, but he didn't get HIV because someone sneezed on him), and actor "bad boys" like Charlie Sheen, River Phoenix, and Coreys Haim and Feldman.

And let's not even delve into 30-50 years ago, where role models consisted of:

JFK, the adulterer
Nixon, the liar
That fabulous foursome from Liverpool. Really, does anyone else hear "I Am The Walrus" and immediately assume anything other than that someone was high as a kite when that song was written?
A sexpot found nude and dead, supposedly by her own hand, but widely rumored to have been murdered as a result of her indiscretions with....... you got it, JFK, the adulterer.

Not to mention the entire generation of free-loving, mind-exploring hippies, many of whom had to be older siblings or cousins or friends and therefore someone's role model.


But, there was also Rosa Parks, Mother Teresa, Princess Diana, Martin Luther King Jr., Julie Andrews, Walt Disney, Dwight Eisenhower, Eleanor Roosevelt, Hattie McDaniel, and so many other GOOD role models, just like there are today.

Answer 4

Teens arn't as vulnerable as people think. Even if some of us listen to music by people considered to be a bad role model we dont actually look up to them. Half the time we dont even listen to the lyrics. And parents dont worry most of us cant stand Lindsay Lohen, Brittany Spears and Paris Hilton. When it comes to rapper kids seem like them for some stupid reason but that still doesnt meen where going to start smuggling drugs.Although i agree that some songs such as "smack that" are an abomination and a sin against nature and shouldnt be listened to by anyone let alone teens and children. But we dont just go doing what songs tell us to do and act how they tell us to act. Give us some more credit than that. The song smack that talks about some guy pounding butt, yet im not sitting here "getting down and dirty" with the guy next door. These bad behaviours come from bad (or lack of) parenting if kids were taught to stick to there guns and not get caught up in the croud we wouldn't have teeny boppers getting obsessed over some "hot celeb guy" thats twice there age.

Personally i dont think i have a role model i just try to do what i think is right in life.
Next thing they'll be saying teens have an attitude problem =)

Answer 5

Absolutely. These kids see these 17-18 year old stars from their KIDS shows drinking and driving or just dressing/dancing very seductively, it has to affect them. Kids get their sense of reality from TV. They don't see much of the world other than their school so the TV is like a window to what they believe is an accurate depiction of the outside world. It's actually pretty frightening.

Answer 6

Absolutely! The "role models" make it look glamorous to dress certain ways, to behave certain ways. They make it cool to walk around in as little clothing as possible, they make it cool to steal, lie, do drugs. Take a lool at Lindsay Lohan and pretty much and rapper out there. Kids these days want to be just like them, so they try doing the same things.

Answer 7

Yes.

Parents should be your role models.

These celebrities do not live in reality.

Celebrities have all the time in the world to party, get in trouble and have the money to get away with it.

Role models are hard working people who do there best to help others and be a productive memeber of society.

Answer 8

Although they can certainly be a bad influence, my ultimate answer is no they do not contribute to a lack of integrity. I firmly believe that after childhood one has to become responsible for their own actions.

Placing blame on role models ultimately removes accountability. It's almost like saying "Paris Hilton made me do it".

Answer 9

Yes, look at role models today compared to 20 years ago.

Paris HIlton
Britney Spears
Linsey Lohan
Olsen Twins
Kobie Bryant
R. Kelly

They are all messed up, anorexic, drug addicts, child molesters, and rapests, and millionairs!

Answer 10

Not if you use good parenting skills.
I saw the CD for a rapper who has been indicted for sex with under age girls next to a picture of a fellow workers young daughter.
That is not the message you want to send.