Peer Pressure Essay

Peer pressure is the strong influence of a group, especially of children, on members of that group to behave as everyone else does. Peer pressure is the strongest influence on adolescents to take part in something they do not particularly want to be doing such as illegal things that commonly result in severe consequences. Although peer pressure can feel overpowering there is always another option without negative consequences. Peer pressure can also have positive effects such as joining a sports team that you eventually end up loving simply because your peers influenced you to try out. Peer pressure may influence a change in behaviour, drug use, alcohol use, a change in interests, a change in the way one dresses or change in the way they

To some individuals the sense of the need to resemble others could be really high and for others it could be low. This all relates to the individuals they socialize with or have relations with. For example if an individual’s significant other is consistently influencing or pressuring that individual to drink alcohol or go to parties they are more likely to follow that path than others who are not pressured. It is impossible for an individual to know as soon as they meet someone that they are going to pressure them to do things they do not want to do, but individuals need to learn that it is acceptable to say no when they people it is harmful to themselves or others. Studies show that in most cases, implicit peer pressure can be destructive, encouraging teens to engage in harmful behaviors, such as drug use or crime. When an individual gives in, so to say, to the pressure it could lead to that individual participating in the influencing affect. Considering the above, adolescents need to learn that it is better to not participate in illegal actions than to participate so that they can fit