--Original published at Marisa Psych Blog
Many people are victims of peer pressure everyday. This seems to be a climbing issue in todays society, sen at all ages or life. Peer pressure is given into to what others do and how they act, just to feel as sense of belonging. Following with what the majority is doing, just to not be left behind. It is almost impossible to escape peer pressure, or so it feels as it is right infront of you, tempting to control how and what you do. it is a social influence and is connected to acceptance. Peer pressure is not just confined to the idea of doing things you wouldn’t do, it carries many factors and different group this issue can effect.
Teenagers are one of the biggest group that peer prose is thought to effect. They are the age that most things begin and change and settle in your life, going from a child to a young adult. While you are trying to find who you really are, there will be things that you will or will not do. Not everyone follows the same life rules, and this introduces peer pressure. Doing new things and trying what works and doesn’t work for your life. Teenagers are influenced heavily by the outside world. Social factors like clothing and hair styles, music , social media, and various other thing cloud and form a persons judgment and. personal feelings toward life and how they want or feel as if they should be living it. It is important for teens to find a balance, between outside life like school and friends in addition to their home life. Depending on whether or not you give into peer pressure or how much you do, you can potentially lose who you were before and turn into something you are not. In school and other teenage environments, this is where temptation to try new things and test your limits will arise. Understanding how to access a situation and the potential decisions you can make and how it will affect you both short and long term is very important. Taking risks every once is=n awhile is not bad, but if you are doing various things that you wouldn’t before, just because of outside influence, this is peer pressure. Being self confident in yourself an the life you have is very important. Showing yourself self love and understanding that you do not have to change to be accepted. Saying no is easier said than done. It takes will power and strength to say no to something, especially if your friends or peers would like you to branch out. Peer pressure is a fact of your personal outer circle and environment, and you are in control of your decisions and actions. conforming inot something you are not is a greats issue and result of peer pressure. Feeling a sense of social solidarity and union to one another makes you feel normal as well as powerful. Looking for approval and seeking things from a different lifestyle are all connected to the idea of pressure on teens.
College students are another huge group that is subjected to possibility of peer pressure. This is one of the biggest populations in the world. At this age you are also trying to find who you are, becoming an adult and living without parent rules and influence. This allows you to wonder and try new things you may not have before during your teen or childhood years. You are entering a new realm or world, nothing that you have experienced before. living amongst other young adults your age, forming different relationships and acting in ways you see others around you. Making your own decisions and being responsible for yourself with nobody else worrying if you are okay or not is the biggest change from coming from high school years and staying at home to living on a college campus. One of the biggest things a college student can learn is to assess a situation quickly and decide if its a no go or if it is a smart idea for you to stay and partake in the activities happening around you. Saying no to your peers can be very challenging. Feeling as if you will be judged for not participating in what your friends are doing can really influence soemones decisions. The pressure to fit in and conform to the same actions and behaviors surrounding ones self is very challenging to dismiss. Believing in yourself and possessing self esteem and confidence is also important to have during your college years. A lot of college kids test the limits. Trying different drugs, drinking alcohol and going out to parties with the rest of your campus can be quite tempting. Doing what others do around you and conforming to the “norms” college has set is pressure, without it even being said. Social influence is the biggest factor of potentially feeling peer pressured into something. Facing college shows you so many new things it can be overwhelming. Being away from home and not having parental influence on the decisions you ae able to make for yourself, give you a new found sense of power. Having to make designs for yourself and not having to ask for permission is a great deal to young adults. Freedom to a child is important yet very different from going from highschool and living at home with rules to going to college with absolutely no rules and you are responsible for yourself, how you act, and your life success. Boundaries are still there, yet a finer line. Finding a group of friends that lives closely or similar to the way you do or would like to lessons the potential peer pressure that you may succumb to.
One last group of individual that we do not usually think of undergoing or being tempted my peer pressure is parents. Parents face pressure everyday. A mother and father are judged greatly on ho their child behaves and does in the community. Being a successful child shows a parents success in how they raised you. Parenting skills and styles can be observed through the life of their child or children. The decisions that your child makes is a reflection of their parents and how they are taught. The amount you are involved in your childs life is also a huge factor. Parents are not just influenced by the community of other groups of parents, but even from their own children. Children have a hold on their parents as well. They are always wanting and hoping to please their children. Children look for their parents approval, but parents look for the same from their kids. Pleasing and satisfying them, making them happy and giving them whether need to succeed in life is a lot of pressure. Parents learn through experience. Nobody learns how to be a great parent over night. The outside of the community an the overall society give you and guide you with direction. Peer pressure effects a variety of social groups.
Sources
Alexandra, Shawn Francine. “Peer Pressure: 9 Ways You Can Avoid as a Student.” College Life, College Life, 28 Dec. 2017, collegelife.nl/peer-pressure/.
http://blogs.uwhealth.org/kids/2017/05/parent-peer-pressure/
https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/behaviour/peers-friends-trends/peer-influence