Do you have a teen in your home who slams doors, yells, rolls their eyes, or generally shows that they are not listening or invested in connecting? A disrespectful teen can upset the whole family dynamic. This type of power struggle is not just an inconvenience for the household; it can also teach damaging lessons to the teen who shows a physical and verbal lack of respect for authority figures around them.
With intervention and support from our team at Venture Academy, you can help correct your teen’s poor choices and give them a chance to get back on track.
Reasons Your Teen Has a Lack of Respect for Authority
The teen years are difficult to navigate for so many reasons, but a lack of respect can be a problem that shadows them through their life. A few of the possible root causes your teen may have a lack of respect for authority include:
- Teens may feel out-of-control due to stress, peer-pressure, or hormones.
- The teen years have so many new types of relationships, physical changes, and obligations to navigate.
- Teens tend to move toward autonomy as they detach from the family structure. This is important for building new and lasting relationships.
- Teens are experiencing new methods of expression in friends’ households and relationships outside of the home. This may cause them to re-evaluate the values they have been taught.
Building Skills to Respect Authority Figures
Supporting your teen as they learn to have respect for authority may cause a lot of headaches for you, but the process of instilling the right values can help your teen to succeed in their everyday life. We all start somewhere, and learning can take time or may require outside assistance. Redirecting this behaviour is key to helping your teen achieve their goals. Some common steps to take when interacting with a teen who does not show respect for authority are:
- Think about what may be causing this lack of respect. Typically, there is a reason for most behaviours, and teens may have some excellent reasons for the way they react to the pressures of life. When these pressures cause teens to act out, getting them the help they need might lead them to understand they are displacing the target of their emotions.
- Don’t overreact. Speaking calmly and redirecting their actions may help them to understand that they are making bad choices.
- Model healthy attitudes within the home. Values begin in the home, and a forthcoming and positive outlook will show teens how best to behave.
- Notice good behaviour. This does not necessarily mean you should reward good actions but consider having a dialogue with your teen when things are going well. Did they bring home a good grade or do well at a sporting event? Let them know you are proud of their efforts. These small steps can go a long way in creating reciprocal understanding and respect.
The teen years offer many insecurities, and you may find that even the most adjusted teens may need a little assistance from their family or an outside counsellor.
Help Your Teen Build a Healthy Respect for Authority
It is essential to remember that your teen is navigating a new and difficult part of their life, which means that your relationship may change. However, it is also crucial to realise when a teen needs outside assistance to succeed and thrive in society. Help them make healthier decisions with Venture Academy’s 30-day assessment, intervention program, and behaviour treatment.
These programs offer your teen the support and learning tools that will help them to grow with positive results. If you are still feeling unsure, consider taking our interactive child behaviour test 866.762.2211. It only takes about five minutes of your time and may help you take the appropriate steps toward a healthful attitude adjustment.
