Peer Influence and Pressure Among Teens And Young Adult

It wonders me how parents in the 21st feel puzzled due to changes in the behavior of their children. Some parents ponder on what led to changes in the behavior of their children, giving them a restless and sleepless night or thoughtful day, they go day by day thinking on what can led to a sudden change in their children.

However we live in a world where Peer Influence is very much in existence, and Peer Influence is not limited to Teens and Young Adults, Adult also do suffer peer pressure like doing what others are doing, sending kids to a certain school, buying cars you cannot afford, wearing designer clothes and working out at the gym can also be a pressure.

Peer Pressure can either be Positive Or Negative, it's in two ways. It can be positive by spurring you to do great and good new things and it can be negative leading you to try something bad you might literally not want to try or get interested in.

Nowadays, Teens and Young Adult are being pressurized to conform themselves to demand of the dominant or powerful groups, though Peer Pressure has been in existence for a long time.Some Children find it hard to tell their parents of the situations going on their lives, which is majorly from the parents side, some parents have no time for their children, they even find it hard to talk to their children anytime they are less busy, all they are thinking of is either work work and work or parties.

Children are now left to themselves to decide on their life matters because the parents felt once they are providing food, providing a good welfare and paying for their school fees they are already fulfilling the roles of a responsible parenthood. Peer Pressure keeps mounting and the children find it hard to resist the pressure from the dominant and powerful groups

What Is Peer Pressure and Influence?

To start with, Peer Pressure simply means the pressure or a pressing force to conform to demand of some people in the same social group. Peer Pressure is when you do something because you want to feel accepted and valued by your friends.

Teens and Young Adult do some things not because they love but as a result of pressure mounting on them from their friends they find it hard to resist and have no choice than to accept the demand of their friends in order to feel accepted and not neglected and to be valued and not disrespected by friends. Peer pressure is choosing to do something you would not otherwise do. Peer pressure can be a influence on a person behavior from a group that he or she interact with socially or professionally.

Peer Influence and Pressure can be either Positive or Negative to Teens and Young Adults.

Positive Peer Influence can include;

• Going to School like colleges or universities which can be positive for future

• Emulating and Showing discipline at work or school

• Being hardworking in anything you find yourself doing can lead to achievement

• Joining groups that can contribute to your knowledge, ideas and skills

• Following rules that can help your focus in life like being honest, showing respect, exercising and so on.

Negative Peer Pressure and Influence can include;

• Joining gang to bully and tease others

• Doing something you would not want to do

• Drinking Alcohol, smoking or experimenting with harmful substances

• Engaging in activities you would love not to do or doing risky things

How Do I Find A Balance To Peer Influence and Pressure?

I think that is a lot of question going on in the mind of many Teens and Young Adults. Peer Pressure is very visible among members of the same social groups, because you might likely find your self doing same thing. For example A Student in a class will find himself or herself doing almost the same things with his or her peer.

The best way to find a balance to Peer Influence and Pressure is being Yourself, if you are happy with who you are, your choices and values, you are less likely to be influenced or intimated by your peers.

Be Yourself