essay on peer pressure good or bad

Peer Pressure Problem: Negative and Positive Influences

Introduction, most affected stage, effects of peer pressure, handling peer pressure, essay voice-over.

Peer pressure denotes the direct influence on a person by his/her peers through following their conduct, attitudes, and ways (Black, Devereux, & Salvanes, 2013). It varies from social influences as it makes a person change his/her approach or behavior with respect to the influencing individual or group. Peer pressure has been found to influence any person regardless of age, gender, or ethnic background. Other than negative influences such as drug abuse and gang violence, peer pressure might as well result in positive behaviors, for instance, the motivation for hard work or charitable endeavors.

Though the impact of peer pressure can occur at any age, adolescence is the stage at which people are especially vulnerable to such impacts, as at this point peers are highly important in one’s life, hence, may easily influence one’s behavior. Peer pressure is usually linked to the occurrence of negative behavior in adolescence since such conducts are common among peers. Connection with friends who take part in risk behaviors has been established to be a powerful predictor of conduct in the teenage years. The significance placed on peers has been found to decrease as a person enters adulthood, and so does peer influence. Peer pressure has mainly been associated with adolescents engaging in drug abuse and gang violence out of the yearning to fit in with peers and do the same things they do (Dumas, Ellis, & Wolfe, 2012). Nevertheless, though peer pressure plays the greatest role in the occurrence of such negative behavior among adolescents, poor self-worth, and the need to feel safe, also act as contributing factors.

Apart from negative behavior, peer pressure may also result in constructive impacts the moment teenagers get influenced by their peers towards positive conduct, for example, engaging in charitable tasks and working hard to excel in schoolwork or sports. According to studies, many adolescents are convinced that joining peer groups and seeking to outshine their friends in whatever task will make them popular (Bonein & Denant-Boèmont, 2015). In this regard, the average adolescence draws pressure from school, friends, or parents, which elicits the desire to belong to at least one group. In most instances, peer groups take part in violence, burglary, alcohol consumption, robbery, smoking, substance abuse, and premarital sex. It has been established that teenagers spend most of their time with peers rather than parents or other adults. In this regard, the adolescents who develop either positive or negative behavior stay clear of opposing groups and find the ones who propagate comparable actions.

Since most of the contemporary families are headed by single mothers who engage in extra jobs, children spend much time with friends, and this leaves them susceptible to negative peer influence. If teenagers are made aware that social interrelations are vital but just to a given level, they will have the ability to steer clear of negative behavior. On the same note, if educators and parents find adequate time to communicate with children, adolescents will have a high probability of sharing their feelings to get assistance instead of relying on their friends for guidance. This will make teenagers develop a better understanding of the meaning of friendship. Most importantly, the adolescents will become less vulnerable to the traps of peer influence, which will boost their chances of becoming respectable persons later in life (Chan & Chan, 2013).

Peer pressure signifies the influence on people by their peers through following their behaviors, attitudes, and practices. Peer pressure has been found to result mainly in negative behavior among adolescents. In this regard, both parents and teachers have a crucial role to play in ensuring that teenagers avoid negative peer pressure.

Black, S. E., Devereux, P. J., & Salvanes, K. G. (2013). Under pressure? The effect of peers on outcomes of young adults. Journal of Labor Economics , 31 (1), 119-153.

Bonein, A., & Denant-Boèmont, L. (2015). Self-control, commitment and peer pressure: A laboratory experiment. Experimental Economics , 18 (4), 543-568.

Chan, S. M., & Chan, K. W. (2013). Adolescents’ susceptibility to peer pressure relations to parent–Adolescent relationship and adolescents’ emotional autonomy from parents. Youth & Society , 45 (2), 286-302.

Dumas, T. M., Ellis, W. E., & Wolfe, D. A. (2012). Identity development as a buffer of adolescent risk behaviors in the context of peer group pressure and control. Journal of Adolescence , 35 (4), 917-927.

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StudyCorgi. (2023, July 11). Peer Pressure Problem: Negative and Positive Influences. Retrieved from https://studycorgi.com/peer-pressure-problem/

StudyCorgi. (2023, July 11). Peer Pressure Problem: Negative and Positive Influences. https://studycorgi.com/peer-pressure-problem/

"Peer Pressure Problem: Negative and Positive Influences." StudyCorgi , 11 July 2023, studycorgi.com/peer-pressure-problem/.

1. StudyCorgi . "Peer Pressure Problem: Negative and Positive Influences." July 11, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/peer-pressure-problem/.

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• Is peer pressure is harmful or beneficial to an individual

Someone does something because of peer pressure, it means that they do it because of other people in their group do it. The thoughts, behavior, tastes of fashion, music, television and other walks of life are often seen having a deep impact on the living of an individual. We may tend to get influenced by the lifestyles of our peer. The changing ways of life, of our peers, often forces us to change our ways of looking at life and leading it. It’s a human tendency to do what the crowd does. The few have the courage to oppose the peer pressure and be the own selves rather than being one among the lot. Peer pressure is affecting most of us, both, positively and negatively. The distinction between positive and negative peer pressure lies in a thoughtful analysis. Some of your peers blindly leave negative impact on your life and some leave it as positive impact on your life. Let us look at the positive and negative effects of peer pressure.

Peer pressure is useful since it makes us more alert, we can improve own-self and attentive to the happenings around us even the small ones that we might look over but actually be helpful for our knowledge and development. Also, when our peers or classmates are good at studies and other activities it motivates us to match their performance. It is certainly good if we are careless and lazy. When our peers achieve something it taking inspiration from them will bring a positive change in our way of working. For instance, if my classmate has make hard work in the study or any other work and it is delivering better results then I too can adopt that schedule and improve my grades. When we are with our peers we watch their habits and we can pick up some good habits from them, like good thinking, reading, riding etc. These habits will add to our personalities. Being with a peer group can change our overall view of life from negative to positive and turn pressure into motivation, a positive force which will push us in the right direction.

Opposite to this, most of the time, it so happens, that we are enforced to lead a certain kind of lifestyle due to peer pressure. Someone may not like partying, going to watch the movie on weekends, etc. But peer pressure may make you do all, that you will never wish to do. The teenagers cannot understand the good and bad things, at this age they like only peers behavior. There are many teenagers who experience great pressure from their peer that forces them to take towards the bad. Peer pressure can direct to a loss of individuality. Extreme peer pressure may lead you to follow what your peers feel right. Their pressure may force you to go by everything they think right. Peer pressure can actually lead you to lose your tastes in life and force yourself to begin liking what they like. The person loses his/her original way of looking at life. This makes the conclusions that, before following your peer, think about the impact.

Mrs. Santoshi A. Shete Lecturer in IT AISSMS’s Polytechnic, Pune

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Peer Pressure: Positive and Negative Effects Essay

Introduction, positive effects of peer pressure in my life, negative effects of peer pressure in my life, works cited.

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Peer pressure is an individual or a group’s influence on others for them to act differently, change their beliefs, attitudes, or traits to be able to suit or conform to a specified norm. Initially, an individual may not support a specified norm or action but may end up conforming to the same one after external influence from the peer group or other individuals. Solomon Asch, who conducted Asch conformity experiments, asserts that conformity to normative influence is aimed at gaining social approval or reward; it avoids social punishment or disapproval from influencing peers or groups. In my lifetime, there have been many cases when I was influenced by peer pressure, both positively and negatively (Savage 67).

Although peer pressure is usually attributed to negative behaviors and attitudes, in reality, it has both negative and positive effects on an individual. The effects of peer pressure depend on the nature of the influencing group. A bad group may influence an individual in a wrong way, while a good group may instill in a person positive values. Examples of negative peer influence include making wrong decisions, loss of identity, and development of bad habits, while positive peer influence includes exposure to the world, adopting positive habits, and overcoming bad habits. However, the negative effects of peer pressure are more apparent than its benefits (Raum 72).

There are several instances when peer pressure has been instrumental in shaping my attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs positively. Group work has been influential in ensuring my success in academics. When I was in high school, I happened to be assigned to a discussion group that was comprised of people who valued the process of studying a lot. Initially, I was not keen on my studies and I did not want to participate in academic activities which I considered irrelevant, but since members of my group valued education highly, in the end, I had to adapt their studying spirit. The influence of the group played a key role in my academic success. Some of the positive values that the group instilled in me are honesty in academics, hard work in my fields of study, and good management of time. Further, the group influenced my social life by helping me to be a responsible and disciplined individual (Savage 71).

Being an ardent Christian, I considered taking alcohol as immoral, sinful, and unethical. However, the influence of peer pressure made me consume alcohol. One summer, my college friend invited me to a party that had a lot of nice meals and drinks, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic. During that party, my friends were taking alcohol and I was the only person who did not take alcoholic drinks. At first, I rejected their attempt to lure me into taking alcohol but after some time, I went against my principles and tasted some alcohol. I took alcohol to have my friends’ social approval. Although I never tried taking alcohol after that case, my experience proves that peer pressure is a powerful tool that, can influence one to get involved in negative behaviors (Raum 88).

In conclusion, it must be highlighted that Solomon Asch was right when he stated that peer pressure is a powerful tool that can influence an individual to do what he or she did not anticipate. Peer pressure may influence a person positively or negatively. One conforms to the norms of a group to gain social reward or avoid group punishment.

Raum, Elizabeth. Peer Pressure . Chicago: Heinemann Library, 2008. Print.

Savage, Lorraine. Peer Pressure . Detroit, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Print.

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IvyPanda. (2022, February 4). Peer Pressure: Positive and Negative Effects. https://ivypanda.com/essays/peer-pressure-positive-and-negative-effects/

IvyPanda. (2022, February 4). Peer Pressure: Positive and Negative Effects. Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/essays/peer-pressure-positive-and-negative-effects/

"Peer Pressure: Positive and Negative Effects." IvyPanda , 4 Feb. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/peer-pressure-positive-and-negative-effects/.

1. IvyPanda . "Peer Pressure: Positive and Negative Effects." February 4, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/peer-pressure-positive-and-negative-effects/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Peer Pressure: Positive and Negative Effects." February 4, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/peer-pressure-positive-and-negative-effects/.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Peer Pressure: Positive and Negative Effects." February 4, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/peer-pressure-positive-and-negative-effects/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Peer Pressure: Positive and Negative Effects'. 4 February.

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