They may pressure you into doing something you're uncomfortable with, such as shoplifting, doing drugs or drinking, taking dangerous risks when driving a car, or having sex before you feel ready. This pressure may be expressed openly "Oh, come on — it's just one beer, and everyone else is having one" or more indirectly — simply making beer available at a party, for instance. Most peer pressure is less easy to define. Sometimes a group can make subtle signals without saying anything at all — letting you know that you must dress or talk a certain way or adopt particular attitudes toward school, other students, parents, and teachers in order to win acceptance and approval.
The pressure to conform to do what others are doing can be powerful and hard to resist. A person might feel pressure to do something just because others are doing it or say they are. Peer pressure can influence a person to do something that is relatively harmless — or something that has more serious consequences.
Giving in to the pressure to dress a certain way is one thing — going along with the crowd to drink or smoke is another. People may feel pressure to conform so they fit in or are accepted, or so they don't feel awkward or uncomfortable. When people are unsure of what to do in a social situation, they naturally look to others for cues about what is and isn't acceptable. The people who are most easily influenced will follow someone else's lead first.
Then others may go along, too — so it can be easy to think, "It must be OK. Everyone else is doing it. They must know what they're doing. Responding to peer pressure is part of human nature — but some people are more likely to give in, and others are better able to resist and stand their ground. People who are low on confidence and those who tend to follow rather than lead could be more likely to seek their peers' approval by giving in to a risky challenge or suggestion.
People who are unsure of themselves, new to the group, or inexperienced with peer pressure may also be more likely to give in. Using alcohol or drugs increases anyone's chances of giving in to peer pressure. Substance use impairs judgment and interferes with the ability to make good decisions. Nearly everyone ends up in a sticky peer pressure situation at some point. No matter how wisely you choose your friends, or how well you think you know them, sooner or later you'll have to make decisions that are difficult and could be unpopular.
It may be something as simple as resisting the pressure to spend your hard-earned babysitting money on the latest MP3 player that "everybody" has. Or it may mean deciding to take a stand that makes you look uncool to your group.
But these situations can be opportunities to figure out what is right for you. There's no magic to standing up to peer pressure, but it does take courage — yours:.
It's not always easy to resist negative peer pressure, but when you do, it is easy to feel good about it afterward. And you may even be a positive influence on your peers who feel the same way — often it just takes one person to speak out or take a different action to change a situation. Your friends may follow if you have the courage to do something different or refuse to go along with the group. Consider yourself a leader, and know that you have the potential to make a difference.
Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. And we didn't make you do it. If you choose friends who don't use drugs , cut class, smoke cigarettes, or lie to their parents, then you probably won't do these things either, even if other kids do. Try to help a friend who's having trouble resisting peer pressure. It can be powerful for one kid to join another by simply saying, "I'm with you — let's go.
Even if you're faced with peer pressure while you're alone, there are still things you can do. You can simply stay away from peers who pressure you to do stuff you know is wrong. You can tell them "no" and walk away.
Better yet, find other friends and classmates to pal around with. If you continue to face peer pressure and you're finding it difficult to handle, talk to someone you trust.
Don't feel guilty if you've made a mistake or two. Talking to a parent, teacher, or school counselor can help you feel much better and prepare you for the next time you face peer pressure. Peer pressure is not always a bad thing. For example, positive peer pressure can be used to pressure bullies into acting better toward other kids. If enough kids get together, peers can pressure each other into doing what's right! Larger text size Large text size Regular text size.
Defining Peer Pressure Peers influence your life, even if you don't realize it, just by spending time with you. Powerful, Positive Peer Pressure Peer pressure is not always a bad thing. Adolescents develop a strong desire to fit in with their peers and be accepted by them.
This desire makes adolescent peer pressure tough to resist. It is important for parents to equip their children with the skills needed for dealing with peer pressure. If teens do not learn to be confident in themselves and their decisions, they will be more likely to engage in unsafe or illegal behavior.
They will also have a higher risk of depression and other emotional issues. Peer pressure occurs when group of people coerce each other to go along with certain beliefs or behaviors. An obvious form of peer pressure is teen drinking at parties. Kids who attend are expected to drink and some may be expected to drink heavily.
Subtler forms of peer pressure exist in clothing choices or attitudes toward sex or drug use. Generally there are a few people in the group that are the leaders. These individuals set the rules for everyone else and are seen as authority figures by their peers. Anyone who challenges the rules is challenging the authority of the leaders. Teens with few boundaries or rules at home are far more susceptible to peer pressure than those with firm expectations and strict rules. Parents have a surprisingly strong influence on teens.
Setting clear boundaries, with consequences, cements this influence. If a group rejects a teen for resisting the pressure, that teen is often strong enough to find a different peer group that will be more positive. Help your teen find peers who exert a positive influence, and all will be well.
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