Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is the pressure that children and teenagers experience from their peers to behave in certain ways and make certain choices based on what they perceive to be the attitudes, values, and behaviours of their friends and/or peers in general. Peer pressure can be considered positive or negative. Positive peer pressure could be encouraging someone to do well academically, get involved in extracurricular activities, or try new things that he/she may enjoy. Negative peer pressure could encourage someone to try drugs, act violently, or participate in delinquent behaviour such as shoplifting or vandalism just because it’s something his/her friends are doing.

What is Peer Pressure?

The word peer can mean a lot of things, so it’s worth examining your definition. According to Oxford Dictionaries, you could define a peer as someone equal in rank, age, or authority to yourself.

Peer pressure is when your friends want you to do something that you don’t want to do. Kids who have grown up watching TV shows or playing video games know how to pretend to agree with their friends and make them happy even when they don’t like what they are doing. They know not to tell anyone how they feel. When kids find themselves in peer pressure situations, it can be confusing and difficult for them, especially if nobody else knows about it.

Examples of Peer Pressure:

An example of peer pressure is when a group of friends are all going to the movies, but one person can’t go because they have school. The other friends don’t want the uninvited friend to feel left out, so they ask the uninvited friend to help make popcorn or get sodas for everyone. The uninvited friend knows this isn’t their job, but feels pressure because it will make the rest of their friends happy.

Main Causes of Peer Pressure:

The main causes of peer pressure are to have something in common with one’s peers. Another reason is that many people want to please their friends and be accepted by them. Due to this, there are negative consequences for some who succumb to such pressure as they may become addicted or develop behaviour that could cause illness in the future. Lastly, sometimes peer pressure comes from a person’s own desire not to feel left out and left behind by their peers.

How Peer Pressure affects Students:

It affects their personality and study habits by causing them to not be as diligent as they could be. They may also be more easily coerced into taking drugs, joining gangs, and/or engaging in sex. Those who are highly susceptible are children from broken homes, and those with too much unsupervised time on their hands.

Impact of Peer Influence on Behaviour:

Children model their behaviour on the actions of peers, this is called peer influence. Peer influence can be used in a positive way to make students do better or it can cause trouble with drugs and crime. Peer pressure can influence a person’s decision on whether or not to perform an action. The pressure usually comes from other people who are close to you and want what’s best for you.  It may come from parents, teachers, friends or even siblings. It’s important to know that there are many different types of pressures out there such as internal pressure, conformity pressure and group pressure. It is important to stand up for yourself and say no when you feel pressured into doing something that will hurt your health or schoolwork.

Impact of Peer Pressure on the Workplace:

Peer pressure is a constant force to contend with in the workplace, especially for millennials. These employees want a sense of job satisfaction and personal recognition that they don’t think they’re receiving from their managers. If this continues unchecked, disgruntled millennial employees could cause significant problems. They may begin to slack off at work or quit without notice, both of which will create a lot more work for your other employees who are trying to keep up. As a manager, you need to make sure you are providing enough opportunities for your employees to develop professionally so they feel like their contributions are valued.

Advantages of Peer Pressure:

Some people might think peer pressure is always a bad thing but it can be good if it helps someone reach their goals. For example, sometimes peers may suggest working out more or stopping smoking cigarettes to better oneself, which are both beneficial for one’s health. When peers offer constructive criticism, it gives an individual incentive to work harder and do what they believe is right.

Disadvantages of Peer Pressure:

Peer pressure is when your friends have a strong effect on what you do. Some of these negative effects are:
You might not make as many decisions for yourself because you don’t want to risk upsetting your friends. You’ll start to adopt the same behaviours, interests, and goals as your friends so that you can be more accepted. You’ll want to avoid doing things that will cause conflict or awkwardness between you and your friends. Peer pressure is powerful, but it’s never too late to say no! Even if it’s hard sometimes, try to stay true to yourself and make your own decisions.

Why is it Important to talk about Peer Pressure?

Peer pressure is a reality. When we’re younger, those around us tend to have more influence on our decisions. The good news is that this kind of pressure is normal and many kids experience it in one form or another. Talking with them early on can make all the difference as they grow up and can also help adults realize that their decision-making skills are not yet completely developed.

Is Peer Pressure Good or Bad?

Peer pressure has a strong pull on teens. It’s too easy to give in and do what all of your friends are doing because they’re doing it. However, we know that peer pressure is often worse when you take those steps. You know what’s right, but you have trouble sticking with it. 

• Stick with your gut – If there’s something inside of you telling you not to do something, don’t force yourself to. 
• Stand up for what you believe in – If someone tries to talk you into something and you can tell it’s wrong, then stand up for what’s right. 
• Take time for yourself – Don’t spend every minute with people who put unreasonable pressure on you. 
• Maintain relationships that are healthy for you – If a relationship becomes unhealthy or puts too much pressure on you, end it.

Conclusion:

Peer pressure is a problem for many people. One thing you can do to help your child resist peer pressure is to talk to them about it and teach them why it’s dangerous to give in. You should also let them know that they’re not alone, as they will have parents, teachers, or friends who care about their well-being.