In mid adolescence, during the late middle school and early high school years, most rebellion is about creating needed differentiation to experiment with identity and needed opposition to gather power of self-determination.
This reminds me of the play, Romeo and Juliet, because both characters are in mid adolescence, and rebel in order to be together. They are in search for power over their own lives. For example, Juliet rebels by not marrying Paris and pretending that she is dead.
In both types, rebellion attracts adult attention by offending it.
Adults may feel "offended" becuase they think it is their fault for the rebellion. In a way it makes sense, but the rebellion in teens is caused by their own brain and need for independence.
The reason why parents usually dislike adolescent rebellion is not only that it creates more resistance to their job of providing structure, guidance, and supervision, but because rebellion can lead to serious kinds of harm.
Parents may not like the sudden change in their child as they become closer to adulthood.
Although the young person thinks rebellion is an act of independence, it actually never is.
This is interesting. Rebelling does not necessarily mean independence.
From what I have seen in counseling, rebellion tends to have different roles in a young person's growth depending in which stage of adolescence it is expressed
As a person grows up, their personality changes as well. Their rebellion may become worse or more noticable as they grow up.
It can cause them to experiment with high-risk excitement - accepting dares that as a children they would have refused.
This is interesting because it shows the change in some people when they reach adolescence. Teens what to ditch their childlike ways, and show that they are no longer innocent. Again, this is probably because they want control over their own lives.
Rebellion can cause young people to rebel against their own self-interests -- rejecting childhood (link is external) interests, activities, and relationships that often support self-esteem (link is external).
Teens feel a need to rebel because of independence and power. This is something they feel they are missing from their lives.
Whereas younger children don't see the flaws in their parents, adolescents suddenly see the world more realistically.
This is the change in the adolescents. They are becoming more aware as humans, and they see the world more realistically. In relation to Romeo and Juliet, both of them are becoming more aware of their love for one another, causing them to rebel and be together.
All teens go through similar phases -- the need for independence, a separate identity, testing authority.
This is interesting. All/many teens rebel, but they may rebel in different ways. Some rebel in harmful ways, while others rebel in order to become more brave and to step out of their comfort zone.