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Peer PressurePeer Pressure

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• Peer pressurePeer pressure comprises a set of comprises a set of group dynamics whereby a group of group dynamics whereby a group of people in which one feels people in which one feels comfortable may override the comfortable may override the personal habits, individual moral personal habits, individual moral inhibitions or idiosyncratic desires to inhibitions or idiosyncratic desires to impose a group norm of attitudes or impose a group norm of attitudes or behaviors behaviors

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• t requires members to conform to t requires members to conform to the overall value of the group. the overall value of the group.

• These These reference groupsreference groups are are sometimes referred to as sometimes referred to as membership groupsmembership groups, when the , when the individual is "formally" a member individual is "formally" a member

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• Individuals may also have Individuals may also have aspiration aspiration groupsgroups (social cliques, say, such as (social cliques, say, such as yuppies) to which they would like to yuppies) to which they would like to belong. belong.

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• They may also recognize They may also recognize dissociative dissociative groupsgroups with which they would with which they would notnot wish to associate (thus drinkers may wish to associate (thus drinkers may go to great lengths to avoid being go to great lengths to avoid being associated with associated with lager loutslager louts). ).

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• The phrase The phrase Peer PressurePeer Pressure often often carries a negative connotation, in carries a negative connotation, in particular as it relates to adolescents particular as it relates to adolescents being persuaded to partake in being persuaded to partake in potentially harmful behavior, such as potentially harmful behavior, such as pre-marital sex, drug and alcohol pre-marital sex, drug and alcohol use, and skipping school. use, and skipping school.

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• Although the causes of such events Although the causes of such events are hotly debated, peer pressure is are hotly debated, peer pressure is also considered by many to be the also considered by many to be the root cause of several recent root cause of several recent tragedies in the United States tragedies in the United States involving young people, particularly involving young people, particularly the Columbine High School the Columbine High School Massacre Massacre

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• Much research has shown that peer Much research has shown that peer pressure has a much greater impact pressure has a much greater impact on adolescent behavior than any on adolescent behavior than any other factor. other factor.

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• Think about it. Think about it.

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• teenagers spend many more of his or teenagers spend many more of his or her waking hours with peers than her waking hours with peers than with family members. with family members.

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• The interaction is direct, and much The interaction is direct, and much more powerful than the influence of more powerful than the influence of teachers and other authority figures. teachers and other authority figures.

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• Peer pressure tends to have more of Peer pressure tends to have more of an effect on children with low self-an effect on children with low self-esteem. esteem.

• If a child feels compelled to fit in, If a child feels compelled to fit in, the teen may do things that go the teen may do things that go against his or her beliefs simply to against his or her beliefs simply to be part of the group. be part of the group.

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How Does Peer Pressure How Does Peer Pressure Affect You??Affect You??

• Fashion choice Fashion choice • Alcohol and other drugs use Alcohol and other drugs use • Decision to have a Decision to have a

boyfriend/girlfriend boyfriend/girlfriend • Choice of who our friends are  Choice of who our friends are  • Academic performanceAcademic performance

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• This This peer pressurepeer pressure can sometimes can sometimes be used to great effect by marketers. be used to great effect by marketers. If they can sway the few If they can sway the few opinion opinion leadersleaders in the reference group they in the reference group they will capture the whole group. will capture the whole group.

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3 Ways for Peer Pressure3 Ways for Peer Pressure• 1. 1. DirectlyDirectly - You may experience peer - You may experience peer

pressure as someone telling you what pressure as someone telling you what you should be doing. you should be doing.

• It may be a good idea to talk to It may be a good idea to talk to someone you trust if you feel someone you trust if you feel threatened, are being hurt or being threatened, are being hurt or being pressured into something you do not pressured into something you do not want to do. want to do.

• This may be a family member, teacher, This may be a family member, teacher, youth worker or counselor. youth worker or counselor.

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• 2. 2. IndirectlyIndirectly - Peer pressure may not - Peer pressure may not always be obvious to you. always be obvious to you.

• It is not uncommon for a group of It is not uncommon for a group of friends to have particular habits or friends to have particular habits or activities that they do together. activities that they do together.

• It may be that when you are with a It may be that when you are with a different group of friends you are different group of friends you are unlikely to do those things. unlikely to do those things.

• For example, you may only smoke For example, you may only smoke when you are with certain friends or when you are with certain friends or you may be more likely to study when you may be more likely to study when you are with other friends. you are with other friends.

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• 3. 3. Individual Individual - Sometimes the pressure - Sometimes the pressure comes from you. comes from you.

• Feeling different from the group may be hard. Feeling different from the group may be hard. • To avoid this, sometimes we do things to To avoid this, sometimes we do things to

make sure we feel like the rest of the group. make sure we feel like the rest of the group. • Moving to a new area or starting high school Moving to a new area or starting high school

may be scary. may be scary. • Often it means having to make new friends Often it means having to make new friends

and fit into a new environment. and fit into a new environment. • When we are feeling unsure about ourselves When we are feeling unsure about ourselves

we may be more likely to feel the effects of we may be more likely to feel the effects of peer pressure. peer pressure.

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What can we do about it?What can we do about it?• Valuing common interestsValuing common interests – – • Hanging out with people who like Hanging out with people who like

doing similar stuff may help to avoid doing similar stuff may help to avoid a situation where you feel pressured a situation where you feel pressured into stuff you don't want to do. into stuff you don't want to do.

• Being seen hanging out in the cool Being seen hanging out in the cool crowd may not be as much fun as it crowd may not be as much fun as it looks. looks.

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• Saying "No"Saying "No" – –• Having the strength to say "no" may Having the strength to say "no" may

be hard. be hard. • However, it may also feel good to stick However, it may also feel good to stick

with what you believe in. with what you believe in. • Explaining to people in a calm way why Explaining to people in a calm way why

you don't want to be part of something you don't want to be part of something may earn you respect from others. may earn you respect from others.

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• Try not to judge othersTry not to judge others – I – I• f possible, try not to place judgments f possible, try not to place judgments

on other people's choices. on other people's choices. • Respecting someone else's choice Respecting someone else's choice

may help them to respect yours. may help them to respect yours. • Try to remember that you don't have Try to remember that you don't have

to agree with their actions. to agree with their actions. • Focusing on the reasons why you Focusing on the reasons why you

don't feel happy with the choice may don't feel happy with the choice may help you not to judge them. help you not to judge them.

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• Take actionTake action – – • Sometimes you are able to tackle Sometimes you are able to tackle

peer pressure because you are older peer pressure because you are older or feel more comfortable in your or feel more comfortable in your environment. environment.

• Standing up for someone may help. Standing up for someone may help. • Both of these are ways in which you Both of these are ways in which you

may be able to create a positive vibe may be able to create a positive vibe out of peer pressure. out of peer pressure.

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• Young people tend to gravitate toward Young people tend to gravitate toward other young people with the same other young people with the same problems and in the same situations as problems and in the same situations as themselves and where they feel they will themselves and where they feel they will be understood and accepted. be understood and accepted.

• There is a very, very strong need to satisfy There is a very, very strong need to satisfy that thirst for unity and for acceptance. that thirst for unity and for acceptance.

• The feeling of belonging is a very powerful The feeling of belonging is a very powerful force that can outweigh ties to church, force that can outweigh ties to church, school, family, or community. school, family, or community.

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• In addition to the feeling of belonging In addition to the feeling of belonging and not being alone or socially isolated, and not being alone or socially isolated, some characteristics that peer groups some characteristics that peer groups offer which make them attractive and offer which make them attractive and that families may lack are: that families may lack are:

• (1) a strong belief structure; (1) a strong belief structure; • (2) a clear system of rules; (2) a clear system of rules; • (3) communication and discussion about (3) communication and discussion about

taboo subjects such as drugs, sex, and taboo subjects such as drugs, sex, and religion. religion.

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• Helping children cope with peer Helping children cope with peer pressure begins in preschool. Parents pressure begins in preschool. Parents who convey a strong, clear (not who convey a strong, clear (not necessarily rigid) value structure and necessarily rigid) value structure and open avenues of communication about open avenues of communication about many topics early in life as children many topics early in life as children are first being exposed to the group are first being exposed to the group pressures in preschool set a pattern pressures in preschool set a pattern for future positive influences. for future positive influences.

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• Parents who are hesitant to Parents who are hesitant to discourage their children's discourage their children's independence and individuality often independence and individuality often send vague messages or no message send vague messages or no message at all to the child about their at all to the child about their perspective on issues, leaving the perspective on issues, leaving the child to make decisions based on the child to make decisions based on the opinions of his peers. opinions of his peers.

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• Voicing parental opinion provides Voicing parental opinion provides guidance, which children can choose guidance, which children can choose to accept or reject in future to accept or reject in future situations. situations.

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• In turn, the knowledge that the child In turn, the knowledge that the child is open to being guided on important is open to being guided on important matters gives parents a sense of matters gives parents a sense of confidence when the child succumbs confidence when the child succumbs to the numerous small, to the numerous small, inconsequential peer pressures inconsequential peer pressures concerning interests, toys, or styles concerning interests, toys, or styles of dress throughout grade schoolof dress throughout grade school

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Techniques of resisting Techniques of resisting peer pressure include: peer pressure include:

• Observe people and the groups with Observe people and the groups with whom they socialize. whom they socialize. – Observe what they do and the Observe what they do and the

consequences of their actions. consequences of their actions. – When someone tries to argue "everyone's When someone tries to argue "everyone's

doing it," you can prove otherwise. doing it," you can prove otherwise. – Make positive choices about who you Make positive choices about who you

spend time with, instead of joining a spend time with, instead of joining a group just because it is there.group just because it is there.

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• Avoid situations that present Avoid situations that present problems - parties where no adults problems - parties where no adults will be present, being alone with a will be present, being alone with a boyfriend or girlfriend who might boyfriend or girlfriend who might pressure you to become sexually pressure you to become sexually involved, situations where you will involved, situations where you will have to "prove yourself" to be have to "prove yourself" to be accepted as part of the group.accepted as part of the group.

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• Evaluate the risk. Evaluate the risk. – Are you being ask to do something that Are you being ask to do something that

is trivial, like wearing a piece of is trivial, like wearing a piece of clothing you wouldn't normally choose, clothing you wouldn't normally choose, or are you being asked to do something or are you being asked to do something that might have permanent health or that might have permanent health or legal consequences like using drugs or legal consequences like using drugs or drinking and driving?drinking and driving?

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• Communicate: Say "No" forcefully Communicate: Say "No" forcefully and with eye contact. and with eye contact. – If you do not believe yourself, no one If you do not believe yourself, no one

else will either. else will either. – You do not need to apologize for your You do not need to apologize for your

individuality. individuality. – Find an ally, someone who feels the Find an ally, someone who feels the

same way you do, who will support your same way you do, who will support your decision to say no.decision to say no.

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• Anticipate what your friends will say Anticipate what your friends will say or do and decide beforehand how or do and decide beforehand how you will react. you will react. – If you know that when you go to the If you know that when you go to the

mall your friends will shoplift, decide mall your friends will shoplift, decide how you will handle the situation before how you will handle the situation before you go or make an excuse to stay home.you go or make an excuse to stay home.

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• If you are in a situation where there is If you are in a situation where there is conflict, walk away. conflict, walk away. – No one can make you do something you do No one can make you do something you do

not want to. not want to. – If you find yourself anticipating conflict too If you find yourself anticipating conflict too

often, seriously think about finding a new often, seriously think about finding a new friend or set of friends. friend or set of friends.

– Start off gradually, spending less and less Start off gradually, spending less and less time with the people who are pressuring time with the people who are pressuring you.you.

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• Know yourself. Know yourself. – Know what moods might make you more Know what moods might make you more

susceptible to negative peer influence. susceptible to negative peer influence. – Know what activities make you feel good Know what activities make you feel good

about yourself. about yourself. – Know why you are doing whatever you do Know why you are doing whatever you do

everyday. everyday. – Be aware of your actions.Be aware of your actions.– Make active choices rather than floating Make active choices rather than floating

along with the crowd.along with the crowd.

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• Get involved in positive activities Get involved in positive activities such as sports, volunteering, peer such as sports, volunteering, peer tutoring, or youth clubs. tutoring, or youth clubs. – Look for people who share your interests Look for people who share your interests

outside of your immediate school friends. outside of your immediate school friends. – Having several different groups of Having several different groups of

people who accept you gives you choices people who accept you gives you choices and social outlets rather than making and social outlets rather than making you dependent on one group of friendsyou dependent on one group of friends