During adolescence, physical and cognitive changes combine with new social contexts in ways that increase our sensitivity to belonging and earning respect from those around us.
Following are 5 research-based facts about the need for respect and social status during adolescence:
- During adolescence, changes in our bodies and brains motivate us to tune in to the social world. Feeling rewarded from positive attention appears to peak in adolescence, motivating us to find ways to earn approval from those around us.
- Programs that support our increasing desire for autonomy and respect appear to be more effective than other interventions during our adolescent years. Relationships and environments that provide empathy, support, and positive pathways to earn status can improve academic motivation and increase the effectiveness of health interventions aimed at young people.
- The flip side of our increased sensitivity to social reward is the pain of being disrespected or socially rejected. Research indicates that when we feel as though we are being excluded by peers, we report greater distress and show greater activity in a brain region associated with higher levels of depression in general.
- Experiences that make us feel disrespected or treated as though we don’t belong thus become powerful social threats. The negative effects of racism, discrimination, and other forms of exclusion are amplified when we’re adolescents–making efforts to eliminate or at least mitigate exposure to racism and bias for youth especially important.
- Youth need ample positive pathways to channel their desire for belonging and respect into activities that help them find a meaningful place in the world.