Peer Pressure

Image Source

Date: 19 of Nov, 2021

Good morning my readers, how was your night? It's a good thing to slept peacefully last night and by the grace of God to seeing another day again.

Thanks to all my sponsors for their great works, you can follow them up by reading through their articles

I will like to discuss on the impact peer Pressure has on an individual s life.

First of all, what is peer Pressure?

Peers are people who belong to the same age group or same social group.

Peer pressure means the influence the social group has on people. It is the pressure to do the same things as the others of their age. For example, teenagers often choose clothing styles that are similar to their friends.

Points to consider:

People of all ages experience peer pressure. But some age groups are more influenced by peers. Kids and adolescents are more likely to feel peer pressure more than adults because in general with age people learn to handle it.

Peer pressure can influence people to do things, which may or may not be right. For example, peer pressure forces students to study well and also to try drinking and smoking. It can also influence teenagers to spend lavishly to look fashionable. Even if some people do not want to get influenced by peer pressure, they may eventually get influenced by it to avoid feeling left out.

Peer pressure can influence teens to try wrong things and hence teens are more prone to addictions such as drinking alcohol, smoking and drug abuse.

Parents can guide their children about peer pressure so that children can understand what they are going through and how to deal with it well. People with high self-esteem will less likely to take wrong steps to impress others. So, parents must take steps to improve self-esteem in their kids.

Even adults experience peer pressure, especially in the issues of marital life, career and success. Even senior citizens experience peer pressure in the issues of their children’s and grandchildren’s success. But many will learn with age that everyone’s life is different and comparisons are just a waste of time.

Peer pressure can encourage unhealthy competition too. Now, with the rise of social media, there are more chances of falling victim to peer pressure. But it depends on how we take it. Social media and peer pressure together can motivate people to follow a healthy lifestyle.

Types of Peer Pressure

Peer Pressure could be categorized into two; the positive and the Negative peer Pressure

Positive Peer Pressure

Positive peer pressure is when someone's peers encourage them to do something positive or push them to grow in a beneficial way.

For instance, there was a friend of mine during my secondary school days. He couldn't read nor write, and my course mate do make fun of him by calling him names. I have to call him and discuss on how he can improve on himself and he adhere. Now he's a doctor in his field.

Negative Peer Pressure

Negative peer pressure, on the other hand, involves pressure to do something dangerous or damaging to themselves or others.

For instance, pressuring a friend to drink or smoke cigarettes is a way of bringing negative impact on such individual

Impact of Peer Pressure

As your child grows older, their peers will play a bigger role in their life. Friends can influence everything from what kind of music they listen to, to what they wear, to how they talk.

Gender socialization may influence how receptive a young person is to peer pressure. Research indicates that adolescent boys are more susceptible to pressure for risk-taking behaviors.

Peer pressure isn't always deviant, though. Peer pressure can have both negative and positive impacts as discussed above .

Benefits

Advice: Friends can be a great support as kids try out new things, explore new ideas, or need someone to help them work through a challenging problem.

Friendship and support: Feeling supported by someone who accepts you for who you are can boost self-esteem.

Conclusion:

Peer pressure can motivate us to do things to impress our peers. It can influence us to take right or wrong steps. High self-esteem can save us from taking wrong steps to impress our peers. Moreover, parents should guide their children on the good and bad sides of peer pressure, so that they learn to handle that well.

What are your thoughts on peer pressure? Express your point of view through the comment section below. I will be glad to hear comments

Thanks for being patient, check me on noise cash for more Click