Top 5 stereotypes of teenagers

Simplified ideas that make us believe we know what young people are like.

Stereotypes are shortcuts that appear in any type of context, and teenage life is no exception.

In the following article, we will try to compile the most recurrent stereotypes among teenagers. the most recurrent stereotypes among youngstersWe will make a list in which we will analyze them in detail. We will be able to observe the differences between them and to verify which are the functions that they would be fulfilling in their language and their way of thinking.

The stereotypes and the adolescence

Before being able to relate which are the main stereotypes of the adolescents, we need to realize a small introduction in which some concepts are clarified that turn out to be fundamental to be able to advance in the question. First of all, we must dwell on the very notion of stereotype.

A stereotype is a shortcut of thought consisting of a simplification of reality. a simplification of realityabout either a person or a group. Stereotypes often convey exaggerated ideas and do not usually abound in details, but opt for a generalization based on certain traits that need not actually be present, or at least not with the intensity that this concept conveys.

Therefore, as we will see in the next point, when we list the main stereotypes of adolescents, we will understand that these may not necessarily correspond to reality, or may do so only in part or in certain circumstances. This is due to the characteristic of generalization and simplification that stereotypes have.

Likewise, we must bear in mind that stereotypes are often based on, sustained and promoted by prejudice.. Prejudices are negative beliefs that are held in a preconceived way towards some element, person or group. We will also see that in some of the main stereotypes of adolescents, some of these negative perceptions are also present.

What are the main stereotypes of teenagers?

After a brief introduction in which we have clarified some fundamental ideas, we can proceed to list the main stereotypes of adolescents, bearing in mind that they are not the only ones that can occur, but that these represent some of the most representative ones.

1. Adolescents shirk responsibilities

One of the main stereotypes of teenagers has to do with their apparent avoidance of responsibility. It is common for older people to see younger people as lacking in commitment. However, this image does not necessarily correspond to reality.

In fact, some studies affirm that young people attach great importance to social responsibility and, when they have to choose between a series of values by level of importance, they tend to prefer those related to solidarity, commitment or generosity, which clashes with this image based on the prejudice of lack of responsibility.

Activism is very present in young people, so it is not uncommon to find them supporting different It is not uncommon to find them supporting different demonstrations, strikes and other social movements.Another demonstration that this, one of the main stereotypes of teenagers, does not fit many of them, who prefer to be active in many causes and therefore take sides and get involved.

2. Teenagers are lazy

Continuing with the main stereotypes of teenagers, we come to the point of laziness, a recurring characteristic when it comes to talking about prejudices about the youngest. In recent times, moreover, it is common to talk about "ninis", i.e. people, teenagers or older but still very young, who neither study nor work.

The statistics, however, deny that this is the general trend in this segment of the population.. The data provided by the INE, specifically, in 2017, is that young Spaniards who were in this situation were only 16.4%, which means that there were 83.6% who were studying, working, or performing both tasks at the same time.

Not only that, but within the adolescents and young people who do not perform any activity, we must make an important distinction, and that is to separate between those who do not do it because they do not want to and those who are inactive because they do not find a job opportunity, since we must not forget that youth unemployment in Spain, in 2021, is about to exceed 40%, a dramatic figure.

Therefore, before thinking that teenagers are lazy and do not spend their time in any useful activity, we must take into account that statistics widely affirm the opposite.

3. Teenagers are uneducated

Another common misconception is that young people lack culture or are not interested in cultural activities. Again, the data affirm the opposite, so this stereotype would not serve as a correct generalization of the young population either.

The 2014-15 study on the cultural habits and practices of Spaniards points out that. it is precisely the youngest segment that is most concerned about this type of activities.. Among the cultural activities they practice the most are concerts, visits to museums, movie viewings at the cinema, and also attendance at libraries.

In other words, it is precisely adolescents and young people who participate the most in culture, in many of its forms.. Moreover, the data indicate that, as age increases, such participation gradually decreases, which is even more at odds with the essence of this stereotype, which would not be valid, therefore, in most cases.

4. Adolescents are emotionally unstable

The list of the main stereotypes of teenagers continues with a very common one, which is the emotional instability attributed to people around this age. The basis of this prejudice lies in the hormonal changes they undergo, which produce changes in both the emotional and emotional levels.The basis of this prejudice lies in the hormonal changes they undergo, which produce changes at both the physical and psychological levels.

However, these changes do not necessarily entail an instability in the emotions of adolescents, or at least not more marked than that which may be experienced by people in other stages of life. Children themselves, for example, experience abrupt changes in their emotions, which often result in tantrums.

Perhaps this stereotype also has some basis in the attributions made about adolescents, who are sometimes required to behave like adults when they have not yet reached that stage of development, but are on their way to it. For this reason, their emotional changes may be more visible and this could be favoring the construction of this prejudice.

It is important, therefore, to take into account these considerations in order to be aware that mood swings and other forms of instability occur in people of any age, to a greater or lesser extent. If we refer to this condition as psychopathology, i.e., mental instability disorder, or borderline personality disorder, it is important to be aware that mood swings and other forms of instability occur in people of all ages, to a greater or lesser extent, prevalence in adolescents is lower than in the adult population (0.7% - 2.7% vs. 1.4% - 5.9%). (0.7% - 2.7%, compared to 1.4% - 5.9%).

5. Adolescents are conflictive

We cannot forget the prejudice of conflict. There is a tendency to consider that these young people generate recurrent conflicts with the people around them, and especially with their parents, as they are their adults of reference and the ones in charge of establishing the rules and limits they must comply with.

However, authors such as Hoffman, Paris and Hall have studied this and other stereotypes and have found that in reality this is a simplification that does not represent the majority of boys. On the contrary, these psychologists argue that adolescents agree with their parents on the most important issues, and that the differences do not predominate.and that divergences do not predominate over points of consensus.

Therefore, this would be another of the main stereotypes of adolescents, and one that is used quite frequently. Given this statement, we should not forget that young people, in general terms, want to maintain a good bond with their parents, even if they are involved in more arguments than they were when they were children, since, as teenagers, they are developing their adult personality and that also implies acquiring their own positions on various issues.

In any case, we should not forget that this list of stereotypes may be fulfilled on some occasions, but it is not appropriate to use them as a generalization, since we have already seen that the data allow us to reach different conclusions from those exposed by this group of prejudices.