Breaking Rules, Building Selves: The Role of Teenage Rebellion in Shaping Identity

“I rebel; therefore I exist.”—Albert Camus. Rebellion during adolescence has continued to be a much frowned upon, yet widely expected phase in the lives of most teenagers—not only in this day and age but for multiple generations prior. Imagine a 16-year-old, brought up in a highly conservative and deeply religious environment, sitting in her room, blasting grunge tunes all about freedom and expression. She’s wearing makeup and clothes her parents would've never picked out for themselves, least of all for her. All the while, she’s thoughtfully examining her hand, envisioning a new tattoo that she most definitely won’t get permission for. She eyes the door, half-daring herself to walk out and do something—anything—that loudly expresses her freedom of choice and individuality. Most parents would see this as their child going out of their way to either stress them out or cause unnecessary trouble; for the teen, however, it’s so much more. Every rule they break, authority they question, and curfew they challenge, brings them one step closer to self-discovery and independence. Even though they don’t fully understand it yet. So what makes adolescents gravitate towards rebellion? And how does indulging in this teenage instinct shape their sense of identity? 

Multiple psychologists and psychiatrists over the years have taken a keen interest in understanding why teenagers are wired to rebel, and how this very tendency aids in the formation of their unique sense of self. One of the more notable personalities to contribute their insights towards this topic was Erik Erikson, a well-known German neo-Freudian psychologist. In his exceedingly famous theory of psychosocial development, which outlines 8 stages, he suggests that in the Identity vs. Role Confusion stage, adolescents typically between ages 12 to 18 go through a critical phase of identity formation. This is a time when teenagers start to actively explore their identity, experiment with different roles, question authority, and as a result, sometimes rebel against societal and parental expectations. Erikson goes over and briefly expands on this topic in his book Identity: Youth and Crisis. He explains that rebellion can be constructive and can assist an individual in their adolescent years to better differentiate themselves from others as well as find their identity and recognise where they fit in as a fully grown adult. 

Another influential figure in history who shared their perspective on this subject was American psychologist G. Stanley Hall, often referred to as the “Father of Adolescence.” He is widely recognised for his early work as a pioneer in the field of adolescent development and his views on identity formation and rebellion. Hall was one of the first individuals who introduced the idea of adolescence as a distinct phase in every person's life which was usually categorized by what he called, “Storm and Stress.” According to him, adolescence was a turbulent period filled with emotional turmoil, mood swings, social conflicts, and a tendency for rebellion. Hall believed that this Storm and Stress period was biologically wired in us and an essential component in the successful transition from childhood to adulthood. “The adolescent mind is essentially a passionate and powerful mind that strives for independence and autonomy.” — G. Stanley Hall. Hall’s work was groundbreaking for his time, though now dated and criticised for being oversimplified. However, his work laid the early foundations for later theories, such as the Identity vs. Role Confusion stage by Erik Erikson. 

There are usually two main types of rebellion—rebellion of non-conformity, which is against fitting in socially, and the other is rebellion of non-compliance, which is against authority. Parents and guardians typically disapprove of such acts, for good reason, as they could land the adolescent in all kinds of risky and harmful situations. However, rebellious actions of a high degree are seldom required for healthy identity development. Teenagers who find themselves physically, emotionally, and intellectually both challenged and satisfied, coupled with guardians who emanate support and give their kids the freedom plus space to explore their individuality, don’t seem to call for a lot of rebellion to redefine themselves in adolescence and shape their identities further. 

Teenage defiance can be a cause of concern, yet there are numerous examples of positive rebellion in teenagers. Several cultural groups such as punk rock, grunge, and goth subcultures have played a pivotal role in laying the landscape of teenage rebellion. These subcultures seemed to perfectly encapsulate the angst and anti-establishment sentiments felt by the youth. Bands like the Sex Pistols and The Clash emphasized individuality and resistance, encouraging teens to challenge the status quo. While bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam promoted a more introspective form of rebellion. The fashion associated with these movements—ripped jeans, band merch tees, and unorthodox expressive hairstyles—also symbolized a rejection of mainstream standards and expectations, allowing teenagers to visually express their dissent and nonconformity. 

While parents may express their concerns and see it as plain defiance, actually putting in some effort into understanding the underlying reasons for the rebellion, and its possible impact on further identity development can cultivate a healthier parent-teen relationship. In the end, acknowledging and embracing this tempestuous, fragile, yet formative stage in adolescent development can assist both the parent and child in navigating the complexities that come with developing a well-rounded sense of self and identity. 

About the Author: 

Symone Alvares,

Member at Psycreative Column,

First-year student, B.Sc. Applied Psychology, JDSOLA, NMIMS. 

Symone’s name means ‘to listen’, and even though most people mispronounce it, she thinks it’s perfect since she’s an aspiring Clinical Psychologist. She loves to read and is a self-proclaimed cinephile. She relates to Sylvia Plath’s fig tree analogy more than a healthy amount and her 13-year-old self who wrote bad fanfiction that somehow got popular on Wattpad, will forever haunt her. Symone would be willing to spend more money than she’d like to admit on a One Direction reunion concert—that is if it even happens. She hopes that one day she’ll be skilled enough to start her own practice as a psychologist, helping others while trying to be the best version of herself. 

References

Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. W. W. Norton & Company.

Hall, G. S. (1904). Adolescence: Its psychology and its relations to physiology, anthropology, sociology, sex, crime, religion, and education (Vols. 1-2). D. Appleton & Company.

Arnett, J. J. (1999). Adolescent storm and stress, reconsidered. American Psychologist, 54(5), 317-326

Pickhardt, C. E. (2012). Rebellion in adolescence. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/surviving-your-childs-adolescence/200912/rebel-with-a-cause-rebellion-in-adolescence?amp

Kroger, J. (2007). Identity development: Adolescence through adulthood (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications.