Why do teenagers attempt risky behaviors? Psychologist weighs in
How parents handle anger, issues significantly influence a child
KUWAIT: Illegal driving, substance abuse, risky sexual behaviors, and other daring acts have become prevalent among teenagers, leaving parents deeply concerned and on edge. Is this simply a phase of normal adolescent development? Seeking answers to these questions, Kuwait Times conducted an interview with Psychologist, Abdullah Ben Hasan, to delve into the motives driving these behaviors and to offer guidance to parents navigating these challenging issues.
“Adolescence is often marked by a quest for identity and self-discovery. Teenagers encounter challenges when their sense of identity revolves around concepts like strength, acceptance from peers, social support, and validation from society. If these aspirations are channeled negatively towards achieving self-fulfillment through risky behaviors, teenagers are likely to embrace such behaviors, particularly in environments where rebellion is seen as a symbol of strength and dominance,” Ben Hasan said, adding that risky behaviors may also stem from a desire of escaping deeply negative experiences from childhood that continue to affect them. Teenagers who see their peers being rewarded and praised for risky behaviors can further reinforce the belief that such actions lead to accomplishment or provide relief from unhappy realities and pressures.
“The cycle starts with feeling inner emptiness, anger, or weakness. Then adopting a coping mechanism for these feelings, which is not effective but rather destructive. Over time, this behavior becomes ingrained, leaving them unaware of alternative ways to achieve accomplishment, dominance, or emotional fulfillment. The key lies in teaching individuals how to effectively handle the initial negative feelings, whether severe psychological pressure, emptiness, or a sense of low self-esteem and the desire for achievement and self-realization. They should be taught to handle these feelings positively and effectively to break the cycle of negative behavior,” he explained.
Moreover, Ben Hasan highlighted how parents play a role in guiding teenagers towards safer behaviors and avoiding risks. “It starts from the first day of a child’s presence in their environment. How strong is the psychological culture within their family in meeting emotional and psychological needs? How will they handle the developmental stages their child goes through, including learning from observed behaviors, trial and error, and beliefs adopted from their upbringing?
Families need to be prepared and sufficiently aware to deal with these issues. When entering this phase, teenagers should understand the true meaning of self-realization, strength, social support, and emotional fulfillment. This involves instilling core beliefs and teaching effective, positive ways to confront feelings of pain and weakness.
We often think children are only influenced by our direct upbringing, but in reality, they are influenced by our relationships with each other, such as the mother-father relationship and sibling interactions. How parents handle anger or how mothers confront their painful emotions during distressing events will significantly influence a child. They learn more from what we do implicitly than from what we directly tell them.”