The relationship between moral freedom and responsibility in adolescents

Freedom is a fundamental concept in the formation of adolescent identity. However, freedom is perceived by teenagers in various ways, highlighting the controversial nature of the term. If freedom is understood as the possibility to act according to one's own will and desire, or as the absence of obstacles and constraints, then responsibility is explained as the obligation to account for one's actions before certain authorities, according to clearly determined procedures; a moral and intellectual duty to fulfill a commitment or to repair a wrong. In their search for self-identity, young people attempt to build their own vision of life, thus defining their values and limits. Dependent on individual freedom but contrary to responsibility, adolescent behavior often tends toward increased private initiative, intensified selfishness, and resorting to amoral means. In order to determine the impact of freedom and responsibility on adolescent personality development, the questionnaire The Relationship between Moral Freedom and Responsibility in Adolescents was applied. As a result, it was found that adolescents less readily identify the connection between freedom and responsibility. Therefore, the incorrect perception of freedom, to the detriment of responsibility, leads to deviant behaviors. The research highlights the urgent need to foster moral responsibility in adolescents, as well as to develop their understanding of the meaning of freedom and the consequences of their actions, in order to prevent the risks to which they are exposed.