Peer pressure free essay sample

Pressure is the feeling that you are being pushed toward making a certain choice—good or bad. A peer is someone in your own age group. Peer pressure is—you guessed it—the feeling that someone your own age is pushing you toward making a certain choice, good or bad. Types of Peer Pressure there are only two indirect and direct. indirect is having a song encourging you to take drugs because you dont know the song writer diectly and they arent specificly telling you to take drugs its is indirect. direct would be if you friend presure you to take drugs. they are taking specificly to you and you know them it is direct. What are the 5 subtypes of peer pressure? The types of peer pressures include:1.Negative peer pressure 2.Positive peer pressure 3.Heavy peer pressure 4.Indirect peer pressure 5.Friendly peer pressure. Effects of Negative Peer Pressure When you do not like a particular idea or when you have no inclination towards a particular field, it is obvious that you wont like to go by it. We will write a custom essay sample on Peer pressure or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page For sure, you wont like to go that way. But it is you peer group, which may compel you on doing something you hate. In such cases, there are chances that you wont do well in those things. Things you do not enjoy doing cannot fetch you success. You cannot emerge successful in something you have never liked doing. So, it is important that you do not lose happiness of your life by succumbing to peer pressure. Many a time, it so happens, that we are forced to lead a certain kind of lifestyle due to peer pressure. You may not like partying on every weekend, you may not like night outs with friends, you may hate drinking or smoking, but peer pressure may make you do all that you had never wished to. There are many teenagers who experience great pressure from their peer group that forces them to take to drinking. You may take to something as grave as drug use, and that too, only because of peer pressure. In such cases, being overly pressurized by you peers can be detrimental to your living. Some teenagers literally spoil their lives by giving in to peer pressure. Peer pressure can lead to a loss of individuality. Extreme peer pressure may lead you to follow what your peers feel right. Their pressure may compel you to go by everything they think right. You tend to blindly imitate the masses; you adopt their tastes of fashion, clothing, hair, music and general living. Peer pressure can actually lead you to lose you tastes of life and force yourself to begin liking what they like. Peer pressure is the human tendency to join the bandwagon, in which, the person loses his/her original way of looking at life. Here are some negative effects of peer pressure on your child. Alienation From the Family The direct effect of negative peer pressure is alienation from the family. The teen will just not like to be in the company of his parents as he feels that their values are standing in the way of his desires. A negative peer pressure is always antagonistic to the values that are promoted by the family. Thereby, the first thing that the teen does is to compromise the values and then indulge in activities that are contrary to them. Disinterest in Studies Negative peer pressure teaches and encourages the teen to ignore studies. He will thus bunk classes and be completely uninterested in academics. The grades would naturally fall the teen would find it difficult to cope up in high school or get admission in colleges. This will naturally affect his career. Negative Behaviour Negative peer pressure renders an impact in his behaviour and attitude. They feel that it is a mark of independence to disobey and disregard the opinion and values of their parents. They turn hostile and it affects their relationship with their parents, social circle and later in their personal lives also succumbs to this negativity. Amongst the other common effects of negative pressure is indulgence in smoking, alcohol, drugs and early sexual activities. If the negative peer pressure is not timely taken care of, it can damage the future life of the teen in a major way leading to behavioral and psychological disorders, not to forget the physical harm ensuing from  it. Negative Peer Pressure and Its Serious Consequences By: Alice Langholt Negative peer pressure touches almost every teen at some point. Adults also face it at times. Peer pressure lessons learned by giving in can be extremely damaging, or empowering, depending on the outcome. To avoid emotional upheaval, it is important for parents to give adolescents tools for coping with peer pressure. This helps kids make the right decisions when they are faced with negative peer pressure situations. The need for peer acceptance is extremely strong in the teen years. Standing up for oneself is of extreme importance, and can be very difficult. What Negative Peer Pressure Is Like Negative peer pressure occurs when a group coerces someone into doing something inappropriate. The group makes it clear that the person will be kicked out of the group or targeted for revenge if she does not participate. The group also makes it clear that participation leads to acceptance by the group, which is very desirable during the teen years. The activity may be as simple as drinking alcohol at a party or smoking marijuana. It could extend to committing a crime or engaging in unprotected sex. Whatever the activity, the person being pressured feels torn between his value system and his desire to be accepted or avoid the groups punishment. Why Giving in Is Bad If a teen gives in and participates, putting acceptance ahead of her values, the teen loses faith in herself. She stops believing in her ability to stand up for herself, and her ability to live consistently with the values she wants to have. Once she has compromised her values, it becomes easier to do it again the next time. She may let her values go after a while, and go further participate in situations that she otherwise would have resisted. The damage to the teens self esteem is lasting. It can lead to depression or other emotional illnesses over time. Participating in illegal or immoral activities can also lead to legal trouble or health problems. Avoiding Negative Peer Pressure A teen who has been taught to stand up for his values is more likely to avoid  situations in which he is asked to compromise them. If he stands up to the group, refusing to participate in their plans, he will save his self respect. The group may reject him or attempt to humiliate him; if he tells others or gravitates toward people who support him, he will avoid the difficulties of this situation. In some cases, the teen who stands up to peer pressure winds up being the leader of the group, because hes voicing concerns that others are too afraid to share. In the end, he can find a group of peers who are more in line with his value system. He can feel good about himself and his ability to take a stand. This is the desired outcome because it strengthens the teen as a person. What Parents Can Do Parents who openly communicate, who are involved with their kids lives and who teach their kids tools for coping with negative peer pressure will have the best chance of protecting teens from the negative effects of surrendering. Parents who have firm and clear expectations and have more influence over their children than teen peers. This gives kids the courage to stand up for themselves and protect their personal values. Negative and Positive Effects of Peer Pressure We tend to get influenced by the lifestyle of our peers. Their thinking, their choices and their behavior influences us. We feel compelled to follow them. Thats peer pressure. It is beneficial to a certain extent. But its negative effects are more apparent. Peer pressure can be of two types, negative and positive. The section of society which is most vulnerable to the effects of peer pressure is of teenagers. Lets try to understand the positive and negative effects of peer pressure on people. Joe, a boy like any other. Theres nothing extraordinary or different about him or his life. He has a family, he has friends. He is a part of the society all of us also are. His thinking, behavior, tastes of food, fashion and music and the decisions he takes in life are greatly influenced by those of people around him. What people think is the most influential factor in the choices he makes. What matters most to him is the people around, some directly related to him, others not. But for whatsoever reason, their opinions matter. He can never think of what only he wants. His decisions are  almost always influenced by what people think of him. These people may not have anything to do with him, but for some reason their opinions matter. He thinks they are important. They are his peers, they make the group he is a part of. He claims he can think independently, but somewhere he knows he cant. He thinks peer pressure does not affect him, but somewhere he knows its a delusion. Joe is neither happy nor sad, he is confused. Joes story applies to you, me and everyone around. In each of us, there is a Joe. We get influenced by our peers. Their opinions and choices affect us. We want to be independent but we cannot get rid of the group we are part of. We cannot free ourselves from our peers or their opinions and we cant do away with their pressure. It affects us all the time, directly or indirectly. Very few have the courage to resist peer pressure and be their own selves rather than being one among the lot. Very few have the courage to follow their heart and not the herd. Peer pressure does affect us, both positively and negatively. The difference between positive and negative peer pressure is that the former pushes us to do something good or restrains us from doing bad while the latter pulls us away from the good or pushes us to do the bad; and all this for the sake of peers, just because the crowd thinks its the coolest thing to do. Its not unnatural for peer behavior to affect us, but following your peers blindly is not a wise thing to do. Lets see how peer pressure affects us. Negative Effects Decisions Go Wrong: When you do not like a particular idea or when you have no inclination towards a particular field, it is obvious that you wont like to go by it. For sure, you wont like to go that way. But it is your peer group, which may compel you on doing something you dislike. Its obvious that you wont be happy doing what you do. And you wont succeed. Succumbing to peer pressure in taking important decisions of your life can only land you in sorrow. For example, taking up a field or choosing a career just because your friends did so; without much thought to where your interest lies, can only make you unhappy. Bad Habits are Cultivated: Peer pressure forces you to do things you are not comfortable doing. It can even lead you to adopt a certain kind of lifestyle, even if you dont really want to. You may not like partying every weekend, you may not be smoking. But peer pressure is powerful. It can turn you from an always-at-home boy/girl to a complete party animal. It can turn you from a total non-smoker to a chain-smoker. There are so many teenagers who take to drinking against their will, just because their peers force them to. In many cases, peer pressure has been the culprit in creating drug addicts. At that vulnerable age, teenagers do not understand that they are actually ruining their life by giving in to pressure from peers. Identity is Lost: Peer pressure can lead to loss of individuality. Extreme peer pressure may lead you to follow what your peers feel right. Their pressure may compel you to go by everything they think is right. You follow them blindly; you adopt their tastes of fashion, clothing, hair, music and living at large. Peer pressure can actually lead you to lose your own taste. You feel forced to like what they like and do what they do. Peer pressure is the tendency to join the bandwagon; you lose your originality of thought and conduct. You forget the way you wanted to live. You lose your identity. Positive Effects Adopting Good Habits: Peer pressure is not always bad. It can help you reflect on yourself. Peers may teach you good things and encourage you to follow them. You may be able to change yourself for better. Looking at what others do, can help you bring a positive change in your way of thinking. If you can pick selectively, peer pressure can push you towards something positive. For example, when a child knows that some of his friends regularly read storybooks or that they have subscribed to a library, even he feels tempted to do so. He may get into the habit of reading because of his peers. Seeing that some of your friends exercise daily, even you may take up the habit. Positive peer pressure can lead you to adopt good habits in life. Exposure to the World: Your peers, their choices and ways of life give you a glimpse of the world outside the four walls of your house. What they think  about things in life, how they perceive situations, how they react in different circumstances can actually expose you to the world around. Being part of a larger group of peers exposes you to the variety in human behavior. This makes you reflect on your behavior and know where you stand. Peer pressure can lead you to make right choices in life. Giving Up Bad Habits: If you are fortunate enough to get a good peer group, your peers can influence the shaping of your personality in a positive way. Their perspective of life can lead you to change yours. Its not pressure every time; sometimes its inspiration, which makes you change for good. For example, positive peer pressure can make you quit smoking or give up bad habits that you may have. Your peers can inspire you to become more optimistic or more confident. Your peers may influence you to change and make you a better human being. Teenage Peer Pressure When talking about the positive and negative effects of peer pressure, you cant escape discussing how peer pressure affects teenagers. Its because they are the most vulnerable and the most affected. During the teenage years, one is exposed to the world outside. There are many changes taking place at the physical and psychological level. One starts feeling he has grown up, he feels he needs to make choices, take important decisions and looking at the plethora of options available, one is confused. Its during these years that ones ideals are formed. These years shape an individual and his life. He feels independent, free and discovers a new himself. Teenage years are the educative years of ones life. Its the phase they do their high school, go for higher education, take up degree courses. They busy carving a career for themselves. They spend most of their time among those of their age their friends, peers. Teenage is the most youthful period of life. At that age, they are young, enthusiastic, ready to take life head on and eager to take in every little thing life brings their way. They enjoy the company of others their age, as full of energy as they are. But this age is also the most dangerous. They are susceptible, anything can  influence them and make them change, for better or worse the line between the two blurs for a brief period. Its not the kids to blame, its their age. Teenagers are the most likely to fall prey to peer pressure. So, their parents and teachers should save them from succumbing to it. Its natural for a teenaged kid to feel like imitating his friend. Its natural for him to feel like smoking just because his friends do or feel like drinking because his peers do. Its not abnormal for teenaged kids to adopt all that is considered hip and cool without a second thought. They dont do it deliberately. No. They just cant distinguish between the good and the bad. They need to be taught the difference. They need to be shielded from negative peer pressure. And the solution is not in isolating them from peers. Its in teaching them to make good choices in life. A strong support from family, an ability to differentiate between the right and the wrong and the skill to choose friends from peers is the key to greet the positive effects of peer pressure and keep the negative ones at bay. Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/negative-and-positive-effects-of-peer-pressure.html REFERENCES: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/types-of-peer-pressure.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer_pressure http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/emotion/peer_pressure.html http://www.buzzle.com/articles/negative-and-positive-effects-of-peer-pressure.html http://www.studymode.com/essays/The-Negative-Effects-Of-Peer-Pressure-39059467.html Peer Pressure free essay sample Introduction Peer pressure is a social influence exerted on an individual by others in order to get that person to act or believe in a similar way. It is used by a social group, often with the implication that everybodys doing it. This influence can be negative or positive, with a successful result being a change in a persons behavior. Nearly all children experience some form of peer pressure, whether at school, at church or at home among siblings. As a kind of social pressure, it dominates preteen life. Many teens become absorbed into different cliques and groups, spending less time with their families. Much of the personality of a teen can be shaped by a peer group. Negative peer pressure can be a dangerous tool against children, especially younger or insecure children. They may be persuaded to take actions they might otherwise not have considered, such as smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol or taking drugs. We will write a custom essay sample on Peer Pressure or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Peer pressure is a problem for adults, who may be coerced, for example, into buying a house or car they cant afford in an effort to keep up with the Joneses. Peer pressure is not always negative, however. A student whose friends excel in academics may be compelled to study hard and get good grades. Influence can also be exerted to get a friend off drugs or to help an adult take up a good habit or drop a bad one. Study groups, class projects and athletic groups are examples of positive peer groups. Why I chose the topic – I decided to chose this topic because in the Indian Education System children experience a sudden thrust of freedom and responsibility to shape their future at the same time. In such cases, they can either be well-guided or mis-guided. Peer pressure may also lead to stress and anxiety. Teens have a multitude of issues that can cause them anxiety. The two major settings for this peer pressure teen stress are in their home lives and in the college setting. The stressors are many and diverse. Their feelings can be affected by some of the issues listed below: * The feelings that others and also inside themselves tell them they should do and how they should perform. * Peer pressure teen stress is also caused by the way they feel they are viewed by adults in the college setting. * The peer pressure teen stress to perform in the grades and work they do. * Problems with socializing with other teens. Problems at home with family members. * Having a low self worth. * Always having verbal conflicts with their friends and family. * Low income living conditions for the family. * Peer pressure teen stress is sometimes caused by a major event causing grief or trauma within the family. This could be death, an illness, or parents splitting up. * A split in the relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend. * The neighborhood in which they live is not a good place. * Having to move to a new home is yet a cause of the peer pressure teen stress. Having to adapt to a new school/college environment. Objectives of the project: The main objective of the project is to discuss the issue of peer pressure under â€Å"no pressure†. The students must be made to understand how they can grasp the good and leave the bad. The project tries to distinguish between Good Peer Pressure and Bad Peer Pressure. It analyses various aspects that cause such a pressure and gives a solution to the same. The project also gives a remedy for overcoming bad peer pressure. The project also makes suggestions as to how can peer-pressure-struck children can be helped. The project also tries to examine the reasons that make children give-in to peer pressure. Here are some other reasons why people give in to peer pressure, that are less known but equally as responsible. †¢ The lack of self-confidence to go ones own way. It is easier to follow the footsteps of another than to make your own. There is also a certain level of safety that comes with following another. Taking the road less traveled by making your own choices takes self-confidence and self-assurance. †¢ The desire to avoid embarrassment. Many people fear embarrassment more than death. Knowing this, it is easy to see how important effective communication can be in responding to peer pressure. For example, if a bunch of peers surround a teenager and asked him if he wants to smoke a cigarette like the rest of them have, and all the teenager can think of is, but my mom said I should just say no. then he is in trouble. It is best to prepare yourself and your children with witty, yet clear and firm responses to known peer pressures. For example, in the above situation the teenager could say, Hmmm, spend my life wasting money, offending people, having bad breath, and killing myself. o thanks.    A good response cannot only save one from embarrassment, but give others the confidence to not give in to the peer pressure as well. Those who lead are often well respected by those who follow. †¢ The lack of using ones own mind. Again it is reacting, rather than responding that causes one to get in trouble. Think about the consequences of your actions, both present and f uture. Dont give in and sacrifice your long-term goals for short-term gratification. †¢ The lack of unbiased information. When someone feels pressure from peers, they are often presented with biased information. Again it is preparation that can help one to avoid peer pressure by knowing all the facts. Anticipate peer pressure in life and get the facts from a reliable source. Educate yourself and your children dont count on the school system to do it. Some of the more common peer pressures experienced in youth that can be prepared for today are smoking, alcohol, drugs, sex, cutting class and committing crimes. The biggest peer pressure in adulthood is being expected to behave, act, and perform like your peers rather than becoming the person you are capable of becoming. Know the reasons for and against these pressures. Resources referred: ? Bullying Prevention Program http://www. clemson. edu/olweus/ ? Take Action Against Bullying www. bullybeware. org ? Steps to Respect: A Bully Prevention Program www. cfchildren. org/str. html ? Breaking the Cycle of Violence: Intervention for Bullying and Victimization (1996) By Richard J. Hazler ? How to Say No and Keep your Friends: Peer Pressure Reversal for ? Teens and Pre-Teens (1997). By Sharon Scott ? CAFS Teacher Talk Volume 1(3) 1996 http://education. indiana. du/cas/tt/v3i3/peerpress. html Preventing Classroom Bullying: What Teachers Can Do (2003). By Jim Wright http://jimwrightsonline. com/pdfdocs/bully/bullyBooklet. pdf ? Resource for parents: http://sitemaker. umich. edu/356. darnell/advice_for_parents Conclusions: Growing up, everyone will experience some form of peer pressure. Peer pressure is the control and influence people of our age may have on us. Peer pressure can occur in many kinds of relat ionships. The way we respond to peer pressure can have a great impact on the decisions we make and, in turn, our total health. There are many different types of peer pressure. There is positive, negative, and manipulation. Positive peer pressure is not limited to following or setting good examples of what to do. It can also provide examples of what not to do. A teen whose friends do not use alcohol or other drugs may be positively influenced to follow their example. Being a good role model is also a great way to demonstrate positive peer pressure. Influencing peers to take part in a positive act or worthwhile cause is a healthful way of influencing others. It can be contagious. We are primarily social beings with a strong need to belong. Throughout our life, we search for the balance between independence and connectedness. How much of ourselves do we give up/compromise in order to belong? The teenage years (and pre-teen) are a time of shifting focus of belonging from family to peers as while also developing a personal identity. Because kids dont yet have the maturity to grasp or to understand the potential consequences of being influenced by their friends, it is difficult for them to see the pitfalls of poor relationships and negative peer pressure. This project is designed to walk us through the inquiry and clarification of the need to feel connected and belong, as well as to be true to ones self while assessing the harmful affects of peer pressure. In addition to the inquiry looking at the costs/benefits belonging, it will identify strategies to deal with negative peer pressure and ways to turn it around, creating positive peer pressure, building leadership and personal power.