Peer Pressure

Peers can pressure you to join a club or team, to do an after-school activity or pressure you to NOT try something you want to do- like alcohol, drugs or sex (Kaplan). There are ways to get out of sticky situations and overcome peer pressure. Teens who get involved in activities- like sports or church youth groups or academic clubs- experience interacting with others on a positive level (Hayes). There needs to be a relinquishing of the stereotype of peers as a uniformly negative influence on youth. It needs to be made aware that peers can

prove to have a very positive influence on each other.

Dealing with Peer Pressure isn’t easy. Although peer pressure can be extremely strong and hard to resist, there are ways to fight it. You actually lessen your exposure to peer pressure if you’re involved with other teens who possess the same boundaries, ethics, and interests as you do. Sometimes these decisions are negative ones, including using drugs or alcohol, sex, violence or just a desire to fit in (Lingren). Educators and parents need to help teenagers pursue and maintain positive peer relationships. Studies have shown how peer pressure

alone can change one’s mind from what they know is right to making the wrong decision. But hopefully, by having a plan, teens will be prepared to hold to their boundaries. Also, it has been said that all it takes for someone to stand their ground on what they know is right is for one other peer to agree with them. nsions that can have an impact on the decisions they make.