After Rise in Baby Bumps, Some Are Questioning Why Pact Was Made

While many are still in shock at the incredible number of pregnancies this year among local teens in Gloucester, some are trying to understand why the supposed pregnancy pact may have been made in the first place.

Kids want to share an identity and making pacts gives them a way to do so, says Nadine Kaslow, chief psychologist at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. Also an Emory University School of Medicine professor, she explains, "It's kind of a way to feel like a part of an in group," reports ABC News.

Whether it is drug abuse, gang membership or pregnancy, pacts are a way to form bonds. They are kept secret and give members a bond they can share with no one else. "The members of the pact develop trust, camaraderie and rebelliousness by sharing this secret," says Dr. Carole Lieberman, a Beverly Hills psychiatrist.

The newly abundant media coverage on teen pregnancy may also be a cause leading to these pregnancies. The copycat factor may very well be a big part of this new surge. Young viewers are likely to imitate what they see on television and in the media. "There is no doubt that the media influence people to copycat what is portrayed," Lieberman says. Movies about teen pregnancies, such as Juno, and pregnant teen celebrities like Jamie Lynn Spears "make teen girls believe that getting pregnant is cool, regardless of your age, and whether you love-or even know-the father."

A strong parental presence and relationship with teens can help keep them from forming pacts, Lieberman explains. "Teenagers who enter into pacts are feeling neglected and estranged from their parents. If teens can find comfort and a shoulder to cry on at home, they are less likely to go search for it elsewhere.