Essay on Rebellion: Refusing Authority, Influencing Behaviour and Breaking Family Norms

Rebellion refers to resisting authority, influence, or behavioral principles. Rebellion comes from a general thought of indignity and then disapprobation of a situation; the 'insurrecting persons' then manifest themselves by refusing to adhere to or obey the authority in charge of the situation. Rebellion may also be experienced in families when children go against the norms and rules that are set aside to guide that family. Rebellion in children may start with simple arguments about tasks and rules to a total disregard of directions from parents. Rebellion amongst children is mainly as a result of their effort towards seeking identity, acceptance, attention, and freedom.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

First and Foremost, children may rebel for self-identity. At the age of ten and above, many children would want parents to appreciate them, for example, for better personal grooming and doing various house chores. However, many parents may not be aware of this, and the child may feel ignored. According to Talakoub and SalimiBajestani, identity is the justification of one's self-worth (129). Children too struggle with self-identity; however, they may not have the correct predisposition even as they protest and argue. Moreover, Talakoub and SalimiBajestani note that as children grow, they progressively reinvent themselves by challenging or evading the parental authorities and their limits (134). Therefore, this reinvention makes them bypass some family rules and regulations and become rebellious against their parents.

As has been noted, children also struggle with their personality; this may make them always feel misunderstood. The personality development process can make children be aggressive and restless, making children have a lot of insecurities. According to Steele, Ellen, and Cliff McKinney, parents have the responsibility of helping their children to understand their insecurities and misgivings because of who they are and not judge them by their emotional actions (206). Moreover, childhood is a progressive social development stage one in every child's life. For the same reason, Talakoub and SalimiBajestani opine that social identity is fundamental in children (130). Their assertions show that children, therefore, perceive their social status as them relating freely with those close to them, for example, best friends.

Further, the people whom children interact with may also influence their identity. It is a general human nature to be influenced by the people around us. For instance, if a child is shy and withdrawn, it is possible that his or her colleagues may pick such cues and abandon them, confirming their identity. However, this might not be the case with their parents, who may somehow think their children are suffering from other health or psychological issues. As such, parents may insist that their children behave in specific ways, which end up hurting their social identity. In this case, the child's sense of belonging will be deprived, and this may affect their self-image and become rebels.

Subsequently, children also may rebel because they want to be accepted. Acceptance makes people feel the urge to want to be part of the crowd, and this affects every child too. Steele, Ellen, and Cliff McKinney state that children get traumatized with peer pressure, the need for belonging, and to do what everyone else is doing (205). For example, in the movie, what a Girl Want, a teenage girl called Daphne is trying to be someone she is not, and she is struggling with the situation. At one point, her boyfriend is annoyed and disgusted with her life and laments, "Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?" Many children struggle to imitate others, and this may make them have severe emotional challenges and show rebellion when they are not being accepted as they are.

Furthermore, children need to be encouraged and reassured of their personalities. Parents should encourage their children that it is good to be different and still play a great role in the society. Parental acceptance also means showing empathy towards the child. First, the parent should watch and listen, which entails observing facial expression, body language, and the child's behavior. This enables a parent to detach him or herself from their feelings, thoughts, and opinions. Then take time to think about how the child might be feeling or thinking, then respond positively by acknowledging the child's views. This allows the child to develop a sense of self-esteem as well as feel safe, secure, and free to express their views.

Another factor that contributes to rebellion amongst children is the struggle for attention. Every human being loves attention apart from very few people who might have some phobia for attention. Children, however, seek attention such that they end up overdoing what is expected of them. Children enjoy and may want to be noticed and appreciated by the basics they take part in (Best 17). For example, children want to be praised and appreciated quite often, which many parents may not adhere to. This may make them feel unrecognized hence develop rebellion.

Additionally, the search for attention often makes children be at loggerheads with their parents. Children may start showing signs of disregard for parental authority. As Steele, Ellen, and Cliff McKinney opines, parents should, therefore, give their children attention, especially by being available when they need to be listened to (203). For example, parents who are always busy because of work, and lack time for their children may realize that their child is seeking attention in the wrong places and from the wrong people. This may make the child feel that the parents do not care about their feelings and end up rebelling. According to Penaranda-Correa, Fernando et al., fathers must let their daughters know that they are beautiful so that they do not hear it for the first time from other people (133). Moreover, young boys always want to be identified as able, and parents must let them feel so and assure them of their personality. Additionally, children need experiences and relationships that show that they are valued and capable persons who have a place within society. If all children experience is negative attention, adverse reactions, and responses, such children may rebel against their parents.

Similarly, children can also rebel because they need freedom. When children are young, parents have total authority over their children's decisions and choices. However, from age ten and above, children begin to seek their freedom and want to make more decisions for themselves. Best, Joel describes freedom as the ability to make their own choices and decisions (15), children of ages ten and above may want to have a monopoly in making their personal decisions. According to Talakouband & SalimiBajestani, teenagers may soon want to decide what to wear, whom to be friends with, and may not like being told what to do by their parents. At such times, when parents blindly insist on what they want their child to do, the child may feel frustrated and rebel. Parents, therefore, need to create a rapport with their children and make them understand they will have more control over their decision-making to the point that they can be trusted to be able to make wise decisions.

Moreover, children may as well show signs of rebellion because they may feel untrustworthy. Children's cunningness or cheekiness deprives them of parental trust. Parents should make their children know that trust is earned over time with consistency and that the freedom of decision making also has its consequences. According to Best, Joel, children will always say that they want some freedom (8). However, the total freedom for children is still dependent on parents (Penaranda-Correa, Fernando, et al. 127). Freedom should not be given blatantly and must also not be denied without reason. Giving freedom to children blindly may expose them to the wrong company, while total denial always leads to rebellion (Best 17). Parents should, therefore, let children experience freedom partially until they are old enough to learn that freedom comes with responsibility.

Children may rebel against parents' expectations as a result of the struggle for identity, acceptance, attention, or seeking freedom. Child rebellion is widespread in many societies. Most of these experiences and interactions become their premises for testing the parental authorities. However, it is a parental obligation to be able to understand their children and guide them appropriately without any coercion in order to understand them. It is from this understanding that children will learn that everything requires responsibility and accountability and be patient to follow the parental guidance and directives.

Works Cited

Best, Joel. "Troubling children: Children and social problems." Troubling Children. Routledge, 2017.

Penaranda-Correa, Fernando, et al. "Education, child rearing and social justice." Hacia la Promocion de la Salud 24.2 (2019): 123-135. ScieLeco, http://dx.doi.org/10.17151/hpsal.2019.24.2.10. Accessed 25 April 2020.

Steele, Ellen H., and Cliff McKinney. "Emerging adult psychological problems and parenting style: Moderation by parent-child relationship quality." Personality and Individual Differences 146 (2019): 201-208. Science-Direct, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.04.048. Accessed 25 April 2020

Talakoub, B., and Salimi Bajestani. "The effectiveness of guided imagery in reducing parent-child conflicts." Quarterly Journal of Family and Research 10.1 (2013): 127-141. http://qjfr.ir/article-1-115-en.html Accessed 25 April 2020.