How Today's Teens Are Like Hunger Games' Teens

Katniss Everdeen is a tough girl who finds food for her family and is thrown into an arena to fight to the death. All while being 16 years old. Experts say that Katniss and her fellow tribute's reactions and behaviors are relatable to teens today.

3. Finding inner strengthKatniss relies on her resilience and strength to survive the brutal challenges of the games. And although most of the tributes form alliances during the competition, Katniss initially chose to try to survive on her own.
“Katniss is a special case,” East said. “She is an example of someone who learned how to survive and rely on her inner strength.”
Kids who develop a strong sense of self are better able to face life’s problems, she said.
“There are children out there desperate for peer approval, but I also believe there are just as many kids who are strong and independent,” Woods said. “They feel supported and accepted by people in their lives.”
4. Forming alliancesAlthough only one person can survive the Hunger Games, some of the teens form alliances and make pacts to survive. Even Katniss eventually finds a friend in a 12-year-old girl named Rue, who helps her survive.
Teens form larger groups for protection all the time, according to Woods, for example, when socializing in school.
“When you’re in a stressful situation, wanting to connect with other people is natural,” Woods said. “The way you survive is to get people to like you.”
Groups may grow in size as children age.
“Kids start out on play dates with one-on-one interaction, but they develop into larger groups and more cliques by the time they reach high school,” East said.
For kids to "survive" in high school, East said it’s beneficial for them to be in a group where they can share interests and hobbies.
“It’s a safer place to be than being alone,” she said. "If you’re alone, you’re more of target.”
5. Being bulliedIn one scene in the movie, Katniss encourages Peeta, a boy from her district, to show off his strengths so he wouldn’t be mocked by the other teens.
Displaying strength is one strategy teens can use to avoid being bullied, Woods said.
“It can mean strength in numbers, or support from your teachers or the principal,” she said.
In other words, a bully may stop if they see that you aren't a target for harm, that you have protection.
"Bullying comes from a learned experience,” Woods said. “It’s when a person feels like a victim themselves — they act out to make people feel how they feel.”

The other reasons include sacrificing for a sibling, protecting the family, and selflessness. 

Source: Fox News