Impact of Parental and Peers on Adolescence

Running head: IMPACT OF PARENTAL AND PEERS ON ADOLESCENCE
Impact of parents and peers on adolescence
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IMPACT OF PARENTAL AND PEERS ON ADOLESCENCE
Introduction
This study focusses on the role played by guardians and peers on the lives of adolescents
and young adults. This study sheds light on the stages of human development and the social,
emotional, behavioral, physical changes in these individuals, which are shaped by the lifestyle of
their parents and peers. Moreover, the implication of various theories such as Freud’s
psychosexual theory and Erikson’s theory on different stages of human development are
discussed in this particular study.
Discussion
It is seen that parenting style varies from one family to another family. Raising a child is a
complicated task for parents as children tends to idolize their guardians since childhood. Any
wrong behavior of parents creates a negative impact on the psychology of children. During their
transition from childhood to adolescence, these individuals, become aggressive and cruel by
nature. In accordance with Hickman & Campbell (2016), if a child experiences lack of care and
love from their parents, it might happen that they become a self-centered person. There are high
chances that these adolescents and young adults become an emotionless person. They might
become a non-affectionate person. This shows that emotional aspect of adolescents as well as
young adults are highly influenced by the parental style. In the opinion of Pinquart (2016), a
child whose upbringing has been done by his or her guardians in a negligent manner, might
become socially secluded adolescent in future. It may happen that these individuals may exhibit
unacceptable behavior whenever they have to communicate with other individuals. This shows

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IMPACT OF PARENTAL AND PEERS ON ADOLESCENCE
that behavioral and social aspect of an individual is shaped up by the parental style from infancy
until adolescence.
Peers are considered as an integral part in the life of young adults along with adolescents.
Thus, peers play a significant role in shaping up the behavioral and emotional aspect of young
adults along with adolescents. As stated by Smokowski et al., (2015), sometimes these
individuals are unable to cope up with peer pressure and they become prone towards alcohol
consumption and smoking. In addition to this, adolescents often tend to isolate themselves from
their close associates including family members, relatives and friends. It has been observed that
extreme peer pressure often leads to create a negative influence on their academics. As a result,
such individuals becomes mentally upset because they are unable to unleash their emotions to
anyone.
According to this theory, there are overall eight stages of development through which a
child has to pass beginning from infancy until adulthood. Therefore, sociocultural elements
determine the personality of an individual. These stages are Trust Vs Mistrust, Autonomy vs
Shame, Initiative vs Guilt, Industry vs Inferiority, Identity vs Role Confusion, Intimacy vs
Isolation, Generativity vs. Stagnation and Ego Integrity vs. Despair (Bursztyn & Jensen, 2015).
Any kind of failure to finish each of these phases will result in the development of an unhealthy
personality having behavioral and emotional issues. A sense of mistrust towards other
individuals might make the adolescents and young adults socially secluded and such emotionally
distressed people might consume drugs, drinks on a regular basis.