What Is Peer Pressure And How Does It Influence Teenagers?

The persuasion used by members of the same social group is known as peer pressure. The phrase is also used to describe the effect that pressure to fit in and be accepted by the group has on an individual. 

Peers can be anyone of a comparable position, such as those who are the same age, have the same skills, or are in the same social class, even though they are frequently mistaken for friends. 

Although peer pressure is frequently perceived negatively, it isn't always terrible. When teenagers work together to achieve shared objectives like performing well in school or giving back to their community, peer pressure may sometimes be utilized to positively affect people. 

Learning about socially acceptable group norms can be a helpful component of learning how to get along with and interact with others.  Your child's (or your own) reaction to peer pressure can reveal a lot about who they are. While followers may find it more difficult to reject it, natural leaders typically have a lower susceptibility to harmful kinds of peer pressure.

Peer pressure Can Have Both Positive And Negative Influences 

1. Positive Peer Influence 

Peer encouragement or pressure to improve oneself constructively is known as positive peer pressure. 

Here Are Some Illustrations Of Constructive Peer Pressure: 

• Urging a friend to study more diligently so they can achieve greater results 
• Obtaining an after-school job and persuading friends to do the same 
• Putting money aside for a major purchase like a car and enlisting the help of friends to do the same 
• Rejecting prejudiced humour or slander 
• Preventing harmful or unlawful activity, such as underage drinking and smoking

2. Negative  Peer Pressure

On the other side, negative peer pressure entails pressure to do something risky or harmful to oneself or others. 

Here Are Some Instances Of Negative Peer Pressure: 

• Getting a friend to forego school 
• Encouraging a classmate to engage in violence or bullying 
• Encouraging friends to use sexting 
• Forcing a friend to consume alcohol or use drugs
• Forcing a person to purchase e-cigarettes online

Guidelines For Resisting Peer Pressure 

It is critical to get ready to handle peer pressure. When you see that your child or another person, you care about is taking a bad turn, you'll be able to stop it if you know how to recognize the tell-tale indications of peer pressure. 

To Help Someone Deal With Peer Pressure, The Following Techniques Might Be Helpful:

• Prepare ahead of time by asking them to consider the actions they might feel compelled to take but don't want to. Consider solutions to handle the pressure in advance. Ask them to consider how they might leave an uncomfortable situation. Identify a support person that they could call. 
• Have them create a ready-made justification for why they can't participate in something they don't want to. For instance, in some households, if children text their parents a specific pre-planned word or phrase, the parent will phone to inform them that something has come up and they must return home.
• Build relationships with like-minded others since they are less likely to bully your child into doing something they don't want to do.
• Assist your child in identifying the individuals in their lives whom they can talk to or turn to for assistance when they're in a precarious situation.

Written By: Elima Lucas