From the ages 1 to 12, pre-teens are heavily reliant on their parents. This starts to change when kids attend middle school as they no longer spend most of their time with family but with their peers instead. School is the primary place teens network, and the constant peer interactions transmit norms and expectations to them, shaping their morals and interests.

As socialization shifts students’ mindsets to be more socio-centric, they begin to care less about whether their beliefs stem from their feelings because they tend to place importance on communal culture and finding a place of belonging, knowing that being an outcast leads to judgment. However, if an individual grows up in a more accepting community, the freedom allows the child to have more autonomy and curiosity in choosing hobbies and beliefs.

 Social influence also affects youths’ decisions as the brain depends on positive or negative feedback. The brain develops to seek rewards (the reward system), yearning for well-received responses such as acceptance and sentiment from society; thus, the teen alters their actions to please others rather than for themselves. On the other hand, when one receives rejection and hate, their emotions and mentality are harmed, causing them to make poor decisions, which may eventually carry on into adulthood.

Adolescence is a critical time as it is when the youth starts to mature (physically, cognitively, emotionally) while figuring out their identity. Teenagers are more likely to fall into social pressure, pushing a desire for self-improvement and leading them to modify their morals, values, and personality traits continuously. This phenomenon sets the foundation of their ego; therefore, it is crucial not to undermine the importance of curating a nourishing environment during early developmental stages, as it plays a significant factor in determining one’s identity.