Essay About Peer Pressure

“PEER PRESSURE”

“ Toddlers are more likely to copy the actions of a crowd than those performed by one person”(Williams) . Some people use the saying “peer pressure” to refer to the ways that groups influence their members to do certain things they sometimes don’t feel comfortable with. However, peer pressure isn’t always a bad thing. Many of the ways that peers influence each other do not take the form of direct pressure or encouragement. People may doing what the groups is doing without realizing that they are doing it. Therefore, some experts suggest that peer influence is a better term for this social force than peer pressure.

Peer pressure and other types of peer influence can be somewhat strong for teenagers. “People are influenced
Research has shown that teenagers are much more likely to take part in risky behaviors, such as drug use and sexual activity, if their friends do. “When we think of peer pressure, we think of teenagers and the reasons they start smoking or drinking,”(Haun) Peer pressure is made to seem like a negative action but it is not completely true,Some kinds of peer pressure are positive.Certain groups may encourage teens to excel in school, sports, and other activities. They may also discourage members from taking part in harmful behaviors.Peer pressure also has positive and negative effects on groups. On the positive side, it creates similar standards of behavior to help group members interact. It also strengthens group ties by giving members a common social identity. However, peer pressure can harm the group. When all members think and act alike, the group does not have access to other opinions that might help it solve problems.Research by experts revealed several factors that tend to strengthen peer influence. For example, people are more willing to accept group standards when they care little about an issue. They are also more likely to adopt the views of others who are socially similar to them. In addition, groups have more influence over individuals who really want to belong to the group. Gangs, fraternities, and professional societies use this principle to make new members follow their codes of behavior. Peer
Parents can affect their children’s thoughts and actions in several ways. For one, they can promote strong values that steer their children away from harmful behaviors. Teenagers are more likely to resist peer pressure when they care deeply about an issue. Parents can also help their children develop self confidence and self esteem, which strengthen the ability to resist peer pressure. Finally,parents can help their children by being interested and involved in their daily lives. Children with strong family bonds are more likely to choose friends who do not engage in risky behaviors.Teenagers can also help each other resist peer pressure. Studies have shown that people are more likely to go along with a particular activity if they think the whole group is in favor of it. If just one person expresses disapproval of the behavior, it becomes much easier for others to speak out as well. It is even possible for one or two people to affect the behavior of an entire group if they express their beliefs consistently, clearly, and