Facts on Peer Pressure
From LoveToKnow Teens
While some of the facts on peer pressure can be confusing for teens, it is important to sort through them and understand peer pressure. Some teens might not know what peer pressure is while others may have some misguided ideas about who experiences it. No matter what your knowledge level on the topic is, learning some of the facts and numbers of peer pressure can help you to respond to it better in the future.
Facts on Peer Pressure
A few other facts regarding peer pressure that teens need to know include:
How To Define Peer Pressure
Define peer pressure as any influence (pressure) that you feel from someone around you (peer).
Fact: Everyone Experiences Peer Pressure--Even Parents!
No matter how popular or shy someone is, he or she is still likely to experience peer pressure on one level or another. Some people may not experience peer pressure as strongly as others may or may only experience positive peer pressure--but they still experience it.
Teens may feel as if they will only have to deal with peer pressure in high school. However, everyone from high school to the office experiences peer pressure--it just changes in type. For example, instead of feeling pressure to go to a party, an adult may feel pressure to take on an office project he or she doesn't have the time to do.
Fact: Pressure Affects People in Different Ways
Some people will have the influence of peer pressure in their life and not even notice. Other people may feel choked by the power peer pressure has in their lives. This is because peer pressure is different for each person. No one will react the same way to peer pressure as the person next to him or her.
Fact: Peers Shape Who A Person Is
Much like other types of stress, peer pressure can help mold you into the person you want to be. Each decision a person makes helps to create stronger personality. Even if you let peer pressure lead you into a bad decision, the way that you react can help build your character.
Fact: Peer Pressure Can Be Good For You!
While peer pressure generally is thought of as something bad, such as when teens feel peer pressure to drink or smoke, it can sometimes be good. Peer pressure an sometimes influence teens to get better grades, study more, learn a new sport or skill, read a certain book and more.
Should You Give Into Peer Pressure?
One of the hardest facts on peer pressure for teens to understand is how to react to it. If peer pressure can be both good and bad, how can a teen know when it is okay to listen to pressure? Here is a quick test of questions to ask yourself about whether you should listen to or not:
- How would your parents react if you told them about the decision? Thinking about how your parents would feel can give you some insight as to whether the peer pressure you're facing is good or bad.
- Think about yourself: would you be proud to tell others about the choice you are thinking about making. Would you feel uncomfortable telling others? Sometimes your own intuition knows what is best for you.
- Think about the benefit: what would you get out of the decision? For example, if a friend has been pressuring you to join a sports team she is on, you would gain the chance to be on a team. You would also gain exercise and the chance to get better at a skill. If a choice seems more likely to benefit you, it may be a good move.
Conclusion
Peer pressure can be a strong influence in the life of the average teenager. The most important thing for any teen to remember is that they have the power to make their own decisions. With that knowledge, teens can rise above the bad types of peer pressure and create great lives for themselves. After all, teens always have the right to grow up!
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This page has been accessed 1,105 times. This page was last modified 23:26, 1 July 2009.
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