Gift

Giving(positive) https://lifecherish.com/2014/11/20/gift-giving/

Gift giving is something that should not be a chore. It must come from the heart. When
you give gifts, you are giving something willingly without wanting something in return.
Making someone feel special is more than enough reason to make you give more. It tells
the receiver that you were thinking about them.

While it feels good to be on the receiving end, there’s a feeling of self-gratification

when you are the one who is doing the giving. This can’t be measured by monetary value.
The happiness you get from opening a gift is only temporary, but giving provides a more
self-fulfilling experience that lasts for a long period of time.

We learn this when we are young. As children, we give our parents good grades that make
them happy. A simple act can provide a good response. It has been proven that the act
of giving makes us happier than receiving. It doesn’t matter how valuable the gift
may be.

Below are various reasons why people give gifts.

Gifts as an expression of love

Gift giving is an act of self-gratification. It is a good way of strengthening

relationships. If you are in a friendship or a relationship, you should always show
the other person how much you care for him or her. You don’t need to wait for an occasion
in order to give a gift. Give one to show how much you love someone.

Gifts for living well are ideal items to show your sincerity, as well as good intentions
to a person. Essential oils that improve one’s wellness are better than chocolates
or roses. Or you can opt to give gifts for elevating happiness and wellbeing.

Gifts to celebrate a birthday

A person’s birthday is a special milestone that should be celebrated each year. There’
s no age limit for it. Whether the person is young or mature, it is important to give
special attention to the person during one’s special day and be happy for being a year
older. Making someone feel special during one’s birthday can be done with a thoughtful
gift, such as with items that can help a person live well.
Gifts to appreciate someone special

They say that action speaks louder than words, and there’s no better way to say you
appreciate someone than through gift giving. You can make someone happy with a simple
gift. It doesn’t need to be expensive. You can give a gift of appreciation to you father,
mother, sister, brother, or anyone that has done something for you. A token of
appreciation is heartfelt especially if is given sincerely. Corporates and business
owners can also give gifts of appreciation to their employees for their hard work or
for their special contribution to the business. It motivates the workers and makes them
perform better. A token of appreciation can do wonders to the performance of your
workforce.

Gift giving to keep in touch

Not seeing someone often should not be an excuse to ruin one’s relationship. Gifts
can help in strengthening relationships. You can give a gift to stay in touch and keep
that person in your life. There’s no better way to say you still care, then giving
gifts for living well. The person will remember you every time he or she uses essential
oil products or is sipping a cup of wonderful loose-leaf tea you gave the person.

Gifts to say “Thanks”

There are some instances when you need to give back to someone who has helped you or
provided you a favor. Gift giving is an act that can show that you are thankful. Giving
and receiving is the purest of reasons to give gifts. The receiver will truly feel your
gratitude when you give gifts for elevating happiness and wellbeing.

Gifts for anniversaries

It is important for married couples to remember the day of their anniversary. This
thoughtful gesture can be achieved by giving a gift. An anniversary can also be for
a business venture. You can celebrate the milestone with a gift. You can also give a
gift to people who started their own businesses. This is one way to show that you remember
them during a special moment in their lives.

Gifts for a new home

You might not have the time to help someone move in or out of a new home, but you can
give the person a gift for a new beginning. A new house is a big step, especially for
people who are starting their own family.

If you received an invitation to a housewarming party, it is customary that you would

need to provide a gift to the new homeowners. It is also proper to bring a gift during
the first visit to your friend’s new home. Gifts could be something they can use in
the new house or gifts for elevating their happiness and wellbeing. Useful gifts are
perfect for this milestone in life.

Gifts for promotion or a new job

A new job or a promotion is something that people get excited about. It is a

self-fulfillment event, and you can make it more special by celebrating with them
through gift giving. It means that you share their excitement, and are happy for them
on their achievement.

Gifts to apologize

There are times when you make mistakes, and a simple apology is not enough to make the
other party forgive you. During times when words are not enough, it is best to express
it with a gift. It will show that you are really sorry for what you have done.

Gifts for passing exams or achieving high grades

Parents can reward their kids who work hard in school to maintain high grades or for
passing specific grades. Gift giving is can help inspire and motivate children to strive
better in school. It will let them know that their hard work will be rewarded.

No matter what the reason is for giving a gift, the best presents are those that come
from the heart.
Gift
Giving(negative) http://www.frugaldad.com/the-dark-side-of-gift-giving/

When we hear the word “gift” it often comes with such a positive connotation. We think
of loved ones and holidays; the benefits of gifts received as well as gifts given. Nostalgic
feelings of that childhood bike or a wonderful concert with a loved one may wash over us.
Along with alcohol, gifts are the main way that we celebrate.
It is how we recognize birthdays, anniversaries, and even religious holidays.

However, we often forget the potentially dark side of gifts. I believe it is Plato’s Republic
that warns there are two major types of tyrants: those who exert power by force, and those
who exert power through gift.

The Dark Side of “Service” Gifts

By now you may be wondering how this fits into personal finance. By the end of this post
I will explain the high price that sometimes comes with gifts and how to protect your autonomy
against gifts that, no matter how well intentioned, may in fact potentially be subtle or
not so subtle exercises of control.

It is an admirable quality in any adult to attempt to be fully self-reliant. All too often,
however, we allow ourselves to become too reliant on others. In doing so, we may be
compromising our own ideals.

For instance, it is common for busy parents today to seek the help of our parents in raising
our children. Child care costs are expensive and we are living in a world that is more reliant
upon both parents working than ever. The solution: we turn to family members to help
watch/raise our children.

Our parents or other family members are often outwardly happy to assist. Unfortunately,
such an arrangement is not without risks, for either the gift giver or the gift recipient.
The gift giver may begin to feel he or she is being taken advantage of. They may even begin
to resent the arrangement but feel guilty about saying anything or taking steps to change
it.

Meanwhile, the person whose child is being watched may look the other way when the “sitter”
does not watch the child in a manner consistent with the parent’s instructions/ideals.
Whenever we are reliant on another person, we are in danger of selling out our ideals or
being pushed into a corner by that person. As for the gift giver, as they say: “no good
deed goes unpunished.”

The Dark Side of “Possession” Gifts

Recently I was given a nice house warming present. I did not ask for this gift, but I was
at the time happy to receive it. However, the gift-giver (a family member) then proceeded
to attempt to tell me where I should position this gift in my house. Being that the gift
was heavy, I did not want to go along with the gift giver’s vision for my own home. When
I held firm with where I wanted it, the gift giver later remarked that I was unappreciative
to a third party and has not spoken to me since.

Taking the same issue from another angle, however, as a gift giver, how would you feel if
you learned that the person you gave an expensive present too then turned around to re-gift
or sell that gift?

I have a friend whose parents bought him a brand new car stereo. A year later he sold the
car, stereo included. His parents would not talk to him for weeks, saying he was not
“grateful” for the car stereo gift.

When you are in receipt of a gift, and particularly an expensive one, you will never truly
“own” it the way you would an item you yourself purchased. This was why my wife and I
made sure we did not need any help from our families for the down payment/closing costs
on our house.

The Dark Side of Money Gifts

Money gifts can be particularly dangerous, especially if they are recurring. First, as a
starting point, how many families have been ruined by unpaid loans? That is why many experts
recommend doing away with inter-family loans entirely and simply “gifting” as much money
as you are willing to give, if any. However, there is a dark side to this practice as well.

In today’s Great Recession economy, there are more and more people who are in need of
financial assistance. Often times, people will rely upon their family members to make up
for a tough financial stretch or a monthly shortfall. I see this in particular with recent
college graduates who are still living with and/or financially relying upon their parents,
hence the nickname “The Boomerang Generation.”

Oftentimes the gift recipient could learn to meet their financial obligations if they were
forced to. They might have to give up cable or other such non-essentials, but it could prove
to be a learning experience and an opportunity for self-growth. Moreover, if you are the
gift-recipient you will feel guilty every time you spend money on a non-essential item.
If your dad has just gifted you $1,000 for your mortgage and you then go on an expensive
vacation, it is just simply a recipe for a confrontation.

In other words, you will lack a feeling of personal autonomy and dominion if you take money
from others. If this can be avoided, it is probably for the better, even if you have to
do without steak dinners or cable for a spell.

In the well-known personal finance classic The Millionaire Next Door the authors titled
a chapter: “Affirmative Action: Family Style.” This chapter dealt with parents who propped
up their children’s bad financial decisions to such a point that the children never gained
the skills necessary to stand on their own two feet.

I have a family member who is 55 years-old and still lives with his mother. He has no money
in the bank even though he has held decent jobs for long stretches at a time along with
hardly any expenses. He spends his money on football season tickets and expensive vacations.

I often wonder if he would have been better off had his parents kicked him out of the house
when he was in his early twenties following college? Perhaps that would have been a needed
wakeup call and taught him the necessary skills to stand on his own two feet.

Instead, he has remained at home and never learned to be self-sufficient. The family often
whispers about what will become of him when his mother, who is now in her eighties, finally
passes away. The many gifts that were bestowed upon him over the years: such as the free
room and board, the car insurance paid for by his parents, and much more, have weakened
his financial immune system, to the point that he now lacks the strength to support himself
despite having no real disabilities or encumbrances. That is the dark side of continued
financial support.
The Dark Side of Gifts: Conclusion

Who hasn’t received a “gift” that made the gift-giver look worse because it was obviously
re-gifted or too insignificant?

Who hasn’t been stressed out by receiving too large of a gift? “How can I ever repay them?,”
you worry. While many gifts are given with the best of intentions, we have to keep in mind
that personal sovereignty is in most instances the key to a happy life and a financially
balanced existence. “Gifts”, whether from the government or from loved ones, often come
with strings attached, whether we see them or not.

At the same time, we as gift-givers must be careful to not be taken advantage of or to harm
another through the gifts we make. In doing so, we can avoid the dark side of gifts, and
focus on the most important gifts we can give: our gifts of friendship and love.

Mobile Games(positive)
https://medium.com/@hit86game1/the-positive-effects-of-mobile-gaming-7ee48e7fc22a

1. Good for the brain

It’s said that many video games are good for the brain. A research conducted by the German
researchers’ shows that people who play games for 30 minutes a day gained positive impacts

on brain including memory formation, fine motor skills, spatial navigation, strategic
planning and fine motor skills. All these areas positively affect the brain.

Also, fast-paced games promoted better learning and memory retention.

2. Positive effect on kids

Mobile gaming has a positive effect on kids which includes classroom engagement, enhances
study habits, students grasping power and their test scores. Also, there are various mobile

games that help them to understand many subject related topics. This makes learning a fun
and interesting thing to do for the kids.
3. Helping to improve health problems

It’s hard to understand but gaming is helping to fight certain health problems. In a
Children’s National Health System in the District of Columbia are using games to tackle
diseases like sickle cell disease. The faculty also programs games that fight memory loss

which can be a symptom of sickle cell disease.

4. Helping people stay fit

Mobile gaming makes people healthy in an interesting and in an effective manner. There are
games in which you need to follow the diets and the commitments because if they don’t they
have to pay an agreed amount to another user is keeping the pact.

This is indeed, a good way to stay healthy and fit. These games are having a positive effect
on people.

Gamification can certainly work on many diseases including obesity, which a big problem
in America.

5. Making the world a better place to live

Thanks to some games like ‘Tree story’ which actually grows new trees. In this virtual
game, players sow seeds and grow them. At the end when they send it to the forests, actual

trees are grown. This is a heartwarming twist!

With the increased use of mobile games, the owners of this industry are working to make
games that are not only interesting but have social, health or other benefits. This is a

great way to enhance the overall development of the people and society. Mobile gaming is
the new way to enhance the skills of people and of course, to keep busy yet happy.

With this, the developers around the world are working to offer games that are for in the
best interest of the society and nature.

Mobile Games(negative)
https://itstillworks.com/12516875/the-negative-effects-of-mobile-games
Dangerous Distractions

The first negative effect of mobile gaming is the potential for distraction when
performing another more important activity, such as driving. Video games should never
be played while driving. Some mobile games use the internet and have the ability to
push information and notifications to a player even when the player is not actively
playing. The game may send these alerts while a player is driving, and the player may
not identify the alert's origin as being from a game, or be tempted to check it anyways,
creating a potentially dangerous situation.

Loss of Productivity Distractions

Many mobile games have a social aspect, or rely on other players taking turns or
participating in the game. In games like this, it's common to have alerts and updates
throughout the day about various things happening in different games. It's also very
tempting to take several minutes and quickly check on a game, or make a quick move.
These micro-transactions can quickly add up over the course of a day or week, resulting
in many wasted hours of productivity.

Sleep Problems

Mobile phones and video games have both been independently linked to disruption in the
sleep patterns of children in studies. Jan Van den Bulck, a senior lecturer in psychology
at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, found through surveys that one in five
teenagers reported being awakened regularly by their mobile devices. Playing video
games on mobile phones will no doubt continue to prevent children from getting the rest
they need. Disruption in sleep patterns, like the ones caused by mobile games, have
been linked to behavior issues, and sleepiness during the day.

Out of Control Spending

Many mobile games operate on a "free to premium" business model, where the basic game
is free, but extras within the game cost money. Some players have found themselves
spending large sums of money while playing games, in an out of control fashion. These
types of games are potentially very dangerous to gamers with any type of addictive
personalities. There have also been reports of parents allowing their children to use
their devices to play their free games, and their children have somehow managed to
purchase items accidentally, with no way for the parent to receive a refund.

Vaping(positive)
https://vaping360.com/learn/pros-cons-benefits-vaping/
1. It’s safer than smoking: Just ask the Royal College of Physicians. They’re a
prestigious organization representing over 35,000 doctors worldwide. They have stated
that vaping is at least 95% safer than smoking based on their extensive research. Since
there’s no combustion, tar or ash associated with vaping, switching to it from smoking
enables the user to experience health benefits from being smoke-free. That means better
oral hygiene, skin health, circulation, lung capacity and an improved sense of smell
and taste.

2. No noxious odors: One of the biggest advantages of vaping is that you and your
environment won’t smell of smoke. Vaping may have an aroma from the flavors used, but
it’s not the smoke from dead tobacco leaves! To some people, the smell of vapor is
barely noticeable. Sometimes you might even get a few complements on the aroma. Even
if you vape tobacco flavors, it won’t smell like the rank fumes that come from burning
tobacco leaves.

3. Control over nicotine intake: Vaping gives you full control over your nicotine dosage.
E-juice is available in a variety of strengths, ranging from nicotine-free to
high-strength nicotine. You can choose exactly how much nicotine is in your vape, if
you decide to use any at all. Most vapers tend to start off with high nicotine levels,
and gradually work their way down to lower levels, or eliminate it completely.

4. Control over vapor output: A major advantage of vaping is having control over the
amount of vapor you exhale. Smaller devices like pod vapes are designed for convenience
and low vapor, whereas the high-powered mods are better suited for cloud chasing.
Adjusting the power output, airflow, and coil type also lets you fine tune your vapor
volume. You can be as minimal or showy as you like, depending on how you choose to vape.

5. Flavors for every palate: When it comes to flavors, there are virtually endless
options to choose in e-juice. There are also new flavors being created all the time,
so you’ll never run out of new ones to try. Some of the more popular favorites include
fruit, desserts, beverages, foods, menthol, and tobacco.

6. Instant satisfaction: The convenience factor is high with vapes due to how quickly
you can silence cravings. Although advanced vapes may require initial tinkering, lots
come prefilled and are ready for immediate use. Either way, once the vape is ready,
taking a hit is as simple as pushing a button or drawing on the device (some have an
automatic draw). While all vapes need a charged battery and e-juice to continue working,
the average vape can sustain you throughout the day with no maintenance or upkeep. It’
s ready when you are.

7. Price points for every wallet: There is a vapor product out there for you, no matter
what your budget is. The vaping market has expanded in the last past few years and
competition is plentiful. There are a wide range of products in every price range –
from disposable e-cigs, to sophisticated vape mods and top-shelf e-liquids. If you’
have less than ten dollars to spend, you can still find a vape that’s ready for immediate
use.
8. No experience needed: Yes, there are some more advanced products out there, but there
are also many that cater to the rank beginner. There are countless options that require
no prior experience. Devices like pod vapes and beginner vape starter kits are perfect
examples. Some of them are draw-activated, so all you need to do is puff on them and
they automatically engage.

9. Wide access and availability: Vaping is much more accessible than when it first
started. Today you can find vapor products in your local convenience stores, gas
stations, smoke shops and of course, vape shops. There are also many great online vape
shops that deliver everything you need, directly to your doorstep. Just about every
single place that sells tobacco these days, is most likely going to also carry vapor
products.

Vaping(negative)
1. Overwhelming options: There’s almost unlimited choices in equipment, e-liquid, and
even vaping styles. It can be hard to process, especially compared to the relative ease
of choosing a cigarette brand and lighting up. That’s why it’s so important for new
vapers to start simple with a basic starter kit. You can also find help at a vape shop,
a vaping forum, or from friends who vape. Luckily, experienced vapers are usually happy
to help teach you how to vape!

2. Technology learning curve: Not only is the market saturated, a lot of the devices
are for hobbyists. Although advanced hardware is not for beginners, much of the
information on the internet focuses on it. This can lead you to think vaping requires
complex knowledge to experience it. That’s not true! Vaping can be very simple despite
how it may seem.

3. Youthful perception: Depending on your area, the legal age to buy vapes is either
18 or 21 years old since the enactment of Tobacco 21 laws. But that’s just the minimum
age requirement. The popular perception about vaping is that it’s a young adult activity.
Adults that vape can be found in any age bracket from 18 on up. The sad part though
is that many older adults don’t feel a connection to the culture of vaping, which very
well could help them with their deadly addiction to smoking.

4. Cumulative costs: Like other consumable based products, vaping requires repeat
purchases. No matter how your device is designed, e-liquid will always need to be
replenished. The price of e-liquid and quantity it’s sold in varies. Some brands are
expensive, but there’s also plenty of cheap e-juice available. Still, one bottle will
not last forever. And while the price of one bottle is rarely going to make or break
someone, the costs will add up when buying too many flavors. This is why many begin
choose to DIY e-juice. It’s relatively easy to do and it cuts costs significantly.
5. Stigma of nicotine: Nicotine is a lightweight as drugs go. It’s a mild stimulant
that also paradoxically relaxes the user. But because its history is inevitably tied
to smoking — which is a highly dangerous delivery mechanism — nicotine has a bad name.
Many people don’t distinguish between nicotine and smoking. If you’re going to use
it, you might have to grow a thick skin and learn to ignore some dirty looks and
uninformed opinions from judgmental types. Most people don’t know the facts about
nicotine, so it’s advisable to arm yourself with the truth.

6. Uncertain health risks: The most long-term study on vaping is 3.5 years. It showed
no negative health effects from its participants. Unfortunately, there’s no longer-term
research beyond that. Because vaping is a new phenomenon, barely a decade old, it’
s impossible to have truly long-term data. If you vape, you’re taking a risk that some
serious hazard might be discovered in the future. But if you’re using vaping to stay
off cigarettes, you can at least rest easier knowing that you’ve distanced yourself
from the well-documented dangers of smoking.

7. Scary headlines: There are lots of myths and rumors about vaping perpetuated in the
news. Some of them have a kernel of truth, some are just made up. Some headlines may
be true but are isolated cases made to look like an epidemic. Almost nothing in life
is truly safe from possible harm, but the onus is consistently put on vaping to be such.
What we know for sure is that it’s much safer for you than smoking.

8. Treated like smoking: Vaping looks like smoking, and both can provide nicotine for
those who want it. Aside from that, they have little in common. When you light a cigarette,
you’re incinerating dead tobacco and inhaling the smoke, which is full of tar and carbon
monoxide that damage your lungs and cardiovascular system. Although second-hand vapor
has been shown to be non-toxic, vapers often get treated like they are poisoning the
air when vaping. Most spaces where smoking isn’t allowed also prohibit vaping.

9. FDA regulations and rules: The FDA was given regulatory authority over cigarettes
and tobacco in the 2009 Tobacco Control Act. That Congressional act also gave the FDA
the ability to define new products as tobacco if they contain “nicotine derived from
tobacco.” Oddly enough, even for e-liquid that has zero nicotine, the FDA requires
a disclaimer that the product does contain it. That’s how the FDA “deemed” vaping
products and e-liquid (and their components and parts) to be tobacco products in 2016,
no matter the actual contents. The “Deeming Rule” allows the agency to approve or
deny which products can be sold, and that process is just beginning.

Dating in highschool(positive)
https://living.thebump.com/positive-effects-dating-teenagers-5729.html

Identity Crisis

The central focus of the teen years is the struggle to find an independent identity,
according to developmental theorist Erik Erikson. Teens spend an increasing amount of
time with their friends, and those friendships take on a deeper importance than they
had during childhood. Opposite-sex friendships provide a new perspective on the world,
giving teenagers a more complete picture of adult life, according to the McGraw-Hill
Online Learning Center's outline on teenage psychosocial development. During the teen
years, many of these friendships emerge as dating relationships. Many teens unknowingly
base their relationships on projections and fantasies of the other person, states Dr.
Carl Pickhardt in a 2012 article for "Psychology Today." These fantasies help teenagers
clarify their own desires within a relationship. For example, your teen might develop
a crush on the star football player, and believe that he is a perfect gentleman. When
they begin dating, she discovers that he is rude and ignores her during football season.
The relationship might be short-lived, but your daughter will come out of it aware that
she wants a partner who is kind and attentive rather than rude and distant.

Practice Relationships

the central crisis of young adulthood is the search for intimacy, and the immature
relationships of the teen years provide practice in bonding, relating and building trust,
according to Erikson. Teens also learn the social rituals surrounding dating, which
can lead to increased confidence in the adult dating scene. For example, at 13, your
daughter might say to her boyfriend, "I don't get it. Last week, you said I was amazing
and you were in love with me. This week you want to see other girls?" Her 13-year-old
boyfriend might respond, "I meant what I said, but now I feel differently. I can't help
how I feel." This is a recipe for hurt feelings and anger on both sides. By age 19,
the teens have experience in building relationships. Your daughter might say. "I'm glad
we decided to take things slowly. I like getting to know you better." Her boyfriend
might respond, "Me too. I don't always like moving slowly, but I think it's better.
I respect you for slowing things down between us." At 19, the teens have learned to
communicate and build lasting bonds.

Respect and Communication

Mutual respect and clear communication are essential to all close adult relationships,
including friendships and family bonds. In childhood, relationships are generally
superficial and based mostly on shared activities. During the teen years, kids learn
the skills needed to build deeper relationships. When dating, teenagers learn to balance
assertiveness with compromise, to fit a relationship into their existing lives, and
to work together to meet both partners’ needs. Most teens are not ready for true intimacy,
but these lessons set the groundwork for the future. For example, a 13-year-old might
be frustrated with his girlfriend. "I don't get it. Going to the arcade is my favorite
thing to do together, and you're tired of it? I'm not going to spend the afternoon you
and a bunch of dumb girls." The girl might reply, "You don't ever want to do what I
want to do!" At 19, the guy might say, "I burn off stress at the gym. I know you hate
the gym, but you like going out with your friends. How about if we take one evening
a week for our own interests?" His girlfriend might respond, "That's a great idea. I
think it's important not to lose touch with our friends and hobbies." The couple has
learned mutual respect, consideration and communication skills.
 Responsibility and Maturity

Most parents consider dating a privilege rather than a right. You might require your
teenager to demonstrate responsibility in other aspects of his life before allowing
him to date. In addition, most teens will not remain in a relationship with someone
who is irresponsible. The pressures that parents, teachers and friends impose, cause
many teenagers to show greater responsibility when they begin dating. Balancing
conflicting interests is not easy, but it is a crucial life skill that enhances maturity.
For example, your 13-year-old daughter might yell at you when you suggest that her grades
are slipping because she is spending too much time with a boy. At 19, your daughter
has experienced the repercussions of fixating on a boy – the coach might have dropped
her from the team for low grades, and she had a fight with her BFF because she missed
the BFF’s birthday—and the boy said she was too clingy. Now, she better understands
the need for balance. "I'm sorry, but I can't go out with you tonight or tomorrow. I
have to study for mid-terms tonight. Tomorrow is girls' night. How about this weekend?"
To which her boyfriend might reply, "Great. The guys will get together for poker. See
you this weekend!" Both have felt society’s consequences of irresponsible dating
behaviors.

Dating in highschool(negative)
Dating an older partner. Some older partners may want to have sex before an adolescent
is developmentally or emotionally ready. When teenage girls do have sex with an older
partner, they may not use contraception and are at a heightened risk of pregnancy. These
risks are more common when young teens—particularly young girls—have a sexual
relationship with an adult. Among young people ages 18-24, nine percent of girls and five
percent of boys reported that they first had sex when they were age 15 or younger and their
partner was at least three years older.1 This age difference also can carry legal
consequences because there are laws that prohibit sex between minors and adults. The
specific laws and definitions differ by state.

Having unrealistic expectations. Sometimes adolescents have idealistic views about

relationships. For example, they may expect that relationships always progress in certain
stages. First, they hang out with a group of friends; then they meet each other's parents;
then they tell people they are a couple; and so forth. Youth may feel disappointed when
the reality of their relationships does not match those expectations. One study found the
more relationships progressed differently than expected, the more often girls experienced
poor mental health, such as severe depression and even suicide attempts.2

Dating at an early age. Younger adolescents are still developing their sense of self and
learning about their likes, dislikes, and values. Younger adolescents also are more
susceptible than older adolescents to peer pressure. Peers play an important role in
influencing adolescent decisions about risky behaviors like having sex.3

Having sex at an early age. When younger adolescents have sex, they often engage in risky
sexual behaviors.4 They also might experience other negative outcomes like depression,
substance use, poor romantic relationship quality, and low school participation.5