Peer pressure can lead a person to engage in sexual activity before they are ready. It may also influence the person to participate in unsafe, risky, or dangerous sexual activities. The consequences may include being exposed to a sexually transmitted infection (STI), developing pregnancy, or having images of yourself posted online without consent. Peer pressure is any type of influence, positive or negative, that comes from a peer group. This peer group may be of similar age (e.g., children in the same classroom) but it can also be defined by other commonalities, including motherhood, professional affiliations, and your local neighborhood. In turn, your friend might reconsider criticizing people based on their appearance.
It isn’t easy saying ‘no’ when you’re being pressured by your mates
Below are some of the peer pressure examples which will help you in identifying the good and bad about how to tackle peer pressure in terms of its positive and negative side. Being pressured by peers can be a stressful experience, whether it happens in person or online. It may shake your sense of identity and self-confidence and may contribute to excessive worry. In addition, prolonged exposure to this type of stress and tension may be a factor in mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression. Although parents worry about the influence of peers, overall, parents also can have a strong influence on whether children succumb to negative peer pressure. What starts out as positive peer pressure may become negative pressure if it leads a person to over-identify with sports, for example, putting exercise and competition above all else.
- Passive peer pressure, sometimes called unspoken pressure, may have more influence over behavior than active peer pressure.
- With indirect pressure, adolescents are exposed to the actions of one or more peers and can choose which one to follow.
- Positive peer pressure can encourage you to engage in beneficial or healthy activities.
- The pressure to conform (to do what others are doing) can be powerful and hard to resist.
- We’ve got tips and info to help you out in these tricky situations.
- We tend to hear more about the potentially negative effects of peer pressure.
Method 2: Coping with the Effects of Giving in to Peer Pressure
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. Sometimes, though, the stresses in your life can actually come from your peers. They may pressure you into doing something you’re uncomfortable https://ecosoberhouse.com/ with, such as shoplifting, doing drugs or drinking, taking dangerous risks when driving a car, or having sex before you feel ready. Peers can be your friends who are about your age and have similar interests and experiences. Peers can also be other kids who are about your age and are involved in the same activities with you or are part of a community or group you belong to.
Positive Peer Pressure
Given the effects that peer pressure can have on adolescents and teens, it’s important for parents to encourage open communication and help their child prepare for situations of negative peer pressure. See seven tips to help how to deal with peer pressure teens avoid negative peer pressure and respond in a healthy way. The desire to fit in and feel like you are part of a group is normal, and most people feel this way sometimes, especially in the teen and young adult years.
This can serve as a compromise between your preferences and the expectations of your peers. It shows that you are willing to find a middle ground that respects both your values and your peers. This critical thinking approach always gives you different perspectives on any situation and helps you make the choices or do the things that are aligned with your true self. Let them know that you respect their choices but you have chosen a different path or decision that feels right for you.
How Peer Pressure Affects All Ages
Many adults are susceptible to drinking too much because their friends are doing it, or putting work before family because they’re competing with other people in their office for a promotion. Role modeling good emotional self-regulation may also help your child stick to their own values when it comes to peer pressure. Self-regulation involves the ability to control thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in order to manage current behavior and achieve long-term goals. You can also positively peer pressure others by the way you respond to situations.
Have you heard the old joke about the patient who tells the doctor, “Doc, my arm hurts when I do this! If your teens face pressure from peers pushing them to do things they know are wrong, teach them to stay away from stressful situations in the first place. If they know that a group of teens tend to look for trouble, avoid hanging out with them. If they know a corner can be dangerous, walk around the block in the other direction. If you continue to have concerns regarding your child and peer pressure, reach out to teachers, school administration or a mental health professional for additional support.
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