Adolescent smoking can also be related to the concept of maxims; the two main types of imperatives. Imperatives can be divided into two categories; hypothetical and categorical. Hypothetical imperatives are well known as the formula of command of reason that represents an objective or purpose. This imperative is telling as to how we must act in order to achieve a particular goal. An example of this can be related to the ethical dilemma I faced when I committed the act of smoking in order to achieve social acceptance. Many teenagers are under the impression that high school is based on this ideology and that it will determine the social category they will be placed in for the remainder of their high school experience. “Hypothetical imperative demands only that a person follows through in practice the commitments he has made and does not withdraw (Hill, …show more content…
I felt as though I was categorized as a social reject, thus forcing me to try underage smoking even though I was aware of the negative repercussions and the disappointment I would face from my parents. My personal ethical dilemma is a prime example of the thought process an individual faces in high school and the decisions they must endure despite it seemly like a simple decision of whether to smoke or not smoke. Hypothetical imperative is when an individual “has decided to pursue a certain end and remains constant to his commitment to it, then one ought to will the necessary means within his power (Hill, 1973)." This further proves that students who want to be apart of a particular social class and will pursue their goal by any means necessary. One of the negatives effects has proven to have, is having to conform and participate in activities they wouldn’t normally, simply to be apart of a social standing (Zuckerman, 1978). Hill explains this theory further with a study conducted with a University
For example, the award ceremonies that took place were seen as simply events that celebrated only preps and not anyone else. After all, many non-preps like the example of a student named Wendy, thought that they deserved an award because of their social and economic situations and how they have to live through and experience hardship. A major problem with the hierarchy and school was the “invisibility” that surrounded these students. Both the students and school personnel did not pay much mind to this group, more dismissing them as just being “there”. As Bettie argues, “at the bottom of the peer hierarchy among white students, the smokers overtly rejected schooling and middle-class norms by association” (2002:102).
Schools are purposefully deciding the futures of the students by preparing them for what they think they will do outside of high school. Instead, they should have been preparing them for the outside world without any bias or
Whitney, a popular girl, says that “the prep description didn’t fit the “real” Whitney” (Robbins 31). She feels that the things people think about her aren’t true just because of her clique in school. She goes on even further, saying that if she could’ve chosen a to be part of the punks she would have. This proves the idea further that popularity doesn’t equal social success, and even people who are popular are still unhappy with their social standing in school. Due to the widespread belief that achieving popularity is the same as achieving social success, many students sacrifice their own individuality in hopes of achieving what they believe is social success.
The temptation to just go along with what everyone else is doing is huge. Many times, peer pressure can be a good thing which motivates one to keep themselves clean or get good grades. On the downside, it can also completely change someone into a completely different person. Even worse, it can get people in trouble or addicted to bad things such as drugs, alcohol, or sex. Listen to Ray Bradbury’s message about conformity and do not just go with the flow.
The writer in the persuasive essay ¨Individuality vs. conformity: The Healthy Middle¨ focuses and explains that conformity is in all ages and everywhere around all schools. The author supports their explanation by pointing out that most high schoolers want to stand out and fit in at the same time. The author’s purpose is to show the audience how teens should find a healthy middle so that they know how to be different and stand out while at the same time the they can also be comfortable with who they are. The author writes in a logical style for the readers because he wants to get his point across and send his message towards all high schoolers and teenagers and others interested in the topic of conformity. I agree with the writer of ¨Individuality
Introduction In high school, students are very outgoing and opinionated. They believe that their rights are just as equal to adults. Even though the Fourteenth Amendment connected the bridge between the school and student rights with the results of Brown v. Board of Education, it is the First Amendment that the students express more of at the high school level. During their adolescent years the students voice more opinions, express their desires, and tend to rebel.
The culture at Cady’s high school, North Shore High, is very similar to most high schools in America; filled with classes, books, clubs, and dances. While learning is the main purpose of high school, the degree of importance fluctuates within the youth culture. A few of the aspects of the culture are common music, activities such as sports, hanging out at the mall after school and teenage slang. Value is placed on the level of popularity and social status, which can also be linked to material items such as money, shoes, clothing, houses and cars. Teenagers find looks very important.
Young people in the 21st Century need to reevaluate their ethics; David McCullough is helping them understand that by explaining that they need to be honest with themselves and their reality. His scathing criticism of them and their culture, philosophies, and ideologies, is justified and insightful; teens in the United States allows special to become a meaningless term, prefers to win instead of achieving, and cares too much about superficial accomplishments instead of internal growth. McCullough makes a point throughout his speech to say that being special is not just given to you; teenagers are not special by default. In the speech, while he is explaining why young people should look forward to more than just being special or different, in
Introduction The film, Mean Girls, a 2004 American teen comedy, focuses on female high school social “cliques” and their effects. In doing so, the movie brings up various topics of sociological relevance, with connections to two of the main topics discussed in the first semester of this course. This film’s characters and world tie into modern socialization and gender issues, giving sociologists a satirical in-depth view of the social hierarchy present in today’s youth—particularly concentrated in young female teenagers. The movie addresses gender stereotypes, socialization and assimilation into a complex high school environment, self-fulfilling prophecy, and various other concepts important to the development of a social self for teens in the
High school isn’t necessarily the best four years of everyone’s life. In a short time the audience was shown the complicated endeavors many teenagers either overcome or become wrapped up in. Although Brian is extremely successful in his academics he struggles deep beneath his skin with extensive pressure and societal acceptance. Brian Johnson is one example of someone who was almost defeated by the difficult
AS A CHILD, I grew up remembering that school would be exactly how the movies told me it would be like, Matilda told me that principals were evil. Mean Girls told me that popular girls hated everyone and were complete sluts. When I started year 7, with over worn stereotypes branded into my memory, I was trained to believe that every high school had impromptu food fights and a dumb jock who only answers to "Buzz." Well, five food-fight-free years later, it hit me like a book of cliches in the face: teenage comedies got it wrong. With teen "dramas" I followed throughout my childhood.
The teenage years can be the most challenging time in a young female adult’s impressionable life. It is a time when one maneuvers from childhood to adulthood, all while trying to find their place in life. There is almost always the power group along with a queen bee, the ones that are the wannabes, and those that do not follow the typical stereotype role. Although the behavior of teenage girls is often criticized, the ruthless actions of those in control of the social ladder or those that break the typical stereotype are what make them dangerous.
High school education is considered the most important stage of one’s life because of various reasons. The secondary stage of education plays a pivotal role in channelizing the future scholastic route and deciding the career option in the life of an individual and so it gains a significant momentum. Students develop their own outlook and perspectives at this stage. They need role models at this stage. Teachers influence adolescent students at this period.
Rotary Essay: Ethical decision In my life there has been a ethical dilemma that has affected my life or changed my views on how I think of people and life. This ethical decision took place when I was in elementary school when school was about to end. The ethical decision was when I got all my stuff and when I got home I noticed for some reason there was a progress report that was not mine but the person that sat right across from me and we were really good friends. I started to be terrified since at first I did not know what to do at all and started to think that I might get into some major trouble and started to just stress out.
Peer pressure is quite the controversial matter today. It is the feeling that someone your own age is pushing you toward making a certain choices, good or bad.(The Cool Spot). The level of peer influence generally increases as children grow and it has become an important influence on behavior during adolescence. Many researches and surveys have been done to find the answer to the question whether peer pressure is beneficial or harmful for teenagers. While Karcher &Finn (2005) claimed that peer pressure is the biggest factor result in bad behavious of adolescents; Bukowski (1998) and Salvy (2011) argued that pressure from peers can bring amazing benefits for them.