The first authors of such violence are adolescents themselves

How to assert its identity and its difference without exclusion of the group to which it belongs Teens are still struggling to find the right formula. The survey by the Wyeth Foundation highlights the difficulties that they encounter to assert oneself, at the age of the construction of the personality and the first sentimental caused alarm. "It is ambivalent discourse because feel different is often seen as a factor of vulnerability," said Claude Griscelli, President of the Foundation and former Director General of the Inserm. Nothing new under the Sun, is tempted to say, even if at the age of social networks belonging to a group has become a major factor of life teenager.

This paradox is illustrated by two values: 74 of the 14-18 years believe that it is positive "to seek to differentiate from the other" and 63 of them consider that should "go into the mold to their place in society." 49 of young people go even further and argue that "it may be dangerous to be different from the others." A large majority (81) also considers that "those who do not resemble other are discriminated. Disability and social origins are seen as the first factors of discrimination (35), before the physical appearance (30) and education (27).

Against magpies sloth

Unlike wisdom, their conservative tendencies are quite close to those of adults. As parents, teens are finally fairly reasonable and think that "do not do too much." However, their relations with their immediate environment reveal some problems. While 80 of them reported having lots of friends, only 64 "feel well at school", 50 often declare themselves "under pressure" and 32 consider themselves "not in their skin". A recent survey of the CNRS on the same subject stated that only 25 of young people ages 15 to 18, French is declared "convinced to have a promising future", compared with 60 in the Denmark (see box).

Relations between girls and boys are naturally at the heart of the relational system of teens, and their judgments did not escape some classical clichés. The girls believe that boys are "more lazy and less careful," while the latter consider the first "more chatty and somewhat annoying". These schematic visions are partly confirmed by their relationships with digital tools. Girls say spend 1 hour 10 per day on the phone (for 48 minutes for boys). The boys are addicted to video games (1 hour 25 minutes per day on average, against 42 minutes for girls). Globally, young people on average spend 3 hours a day before a screen (Internet and television and video games).

Remains a delicate point: violence. 45 Teen reported having been victims of verbal or physical violence. "It is indicative of a global phenomenon of society," said Claude Griscelli. In 21 of cases, violence are related to sex (especially girls) and 43 of the cases they are the consequence of physical appearance (especially males). The first authors of such violence are adolescents themselves. 38 Of them reported having already insulted or been violent with people "which affected them. Girls and boys are curiously equal on this point, which confirms that the "lazy" can be just as aggressive as the "bavardes".