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  <big>BIG</big>Peer Pressure: The Good and Bad
   
== Peer Pressure: The Good and Bad ==
 





Revision as of 20:08, 20 March 2018



Peer Pressure: The Good and Bad

Understanding Peer Pressure


          According to (Lyness, 2015) as the kid grows older even us, will face some of the challenges. One of it is decision making. Some of it does not have a very right or wrong answer, just like should you play Table Tennis or a Basketball? Some of the decisions have some serious moral question, like weather not to study, try cigarettes, or to lie to your parents. 
        Making some decisions on your own is difficult, but if one person is getting involved and are trying to pressure you in one way to another can be more difficult. Peers are those who are on your age like your classmates. It is called peer pressure if they are trying to control or influence you in just to get you to do something.

What is Peer Pressure? How Can Peer influence you?

          Peers can influence us, just by spending time with them. Some of us cannot realize it. it is on a human nature to listen and learn from the other group of people in your age group. You can learn from them and they can learn from you.
              Positive Influence. Peers can give a positive influence to each other. One of it is an inspiration. Just like if your friend is good at math and taught you some easy ways to solve the problems or equations or someone on the football team taught you a cool trick with the ball. You might admire a person or friend who is good at a certain thing and to be more like them. Maybe you get others excited by showing your favorite movies and now they are watching it. So those are the examples of how the peers can influence each other in a positive way each day.
           Negative Influence. Sometimes, the peer can influence us in negative ways to each other. For example, your friend in school might invite you to shoplift with them, your badminton mate might try to convince you to be unfair to another player, or your classmate might try to influence you from cheating in quizzes.

Why Are Some People into Peer Pressure?

           Some kids are into peer pressure because they want to be fit in or to be liked by their friends or other people. And also because they are insecure to the other kids that they might make fun of them if they are not within the group or to be different. Some of them might be curious about trying something new that everyone is doing it. The idea that “everyone is doing it” can influence some kids to have a better judgment.

Statistics on Peer Pressure

Peer Pressure with drug and alcohol use.


One of the biggest issue when it comes to peer pressure is the use of drug and alcohol. Peer pressure would influence them to join in those actions. Even if the parents and school have taught them about the bad side effect of using some alcohol and drugs, it may still influence them. In fact:

• According to The Canadian Lung Association, "my friends smoke" and "I thought it was cool" are two of the main reasons those between the ages of 12 and 17 start smoking. • The Canadian Lung Association also found that 70 percent of teens who smoke have friends who smoke or started smoking because of peer pressure. • The survey also made three conclusions about the effect of peer pressure on drug and alcohol use.

• Teens with friends who do drugs and drink alcohol are more likely to do the same. • Teens who do drugs and drink alcohol are more likely to convince their friends to do it too. • Teens who do drugs and drink alcohol are more likely to seek out other teens who do the same.

Peer Pressure and Sex.


They also face some pressure to give it into their new sexual desire a teenager tried to find their identity. In a study of the Kaiser Family Foundation, they found out that:

• One-third of teenage males feel pressure from their friends to have sex. • 23 percent of females feel pressure from their friends to have sex. • 44 percent of teens want more information on how to handle pressure to have sex and how to know when they are ready to have sex. • 46 percent of parents have not discussed with their teens how to handle pressure to have sex.

Peer Pressure and Driving

Insurance company Allstate had a survey about the influences of teenagers in terms of driving. 89 percent of teen agers said that their parents had the most influence on their driving habits. However in the same survey, when it comes to driving, peers still have a strong influence. According to the survey: • 44 percent of teens drive better without friends in the car. • 56 percent said they talk on their cell phones while driving. • 13 percent said they text while driving.

         Peer Pressure and Self-Harm or Suicide. Peer Pressure sometimes can cause a serious side effect to teens like harming themselves through cutting or committing suicide. In fact:

• The (Mayo Clinic , 2017) says that teens with friends who self-injure are more likely to self-injure as well. • A study from the Yale School of Medicine found that bullying often leads to suicidal thoughts in kids and teens.

What Can We Do?

According to (Lyness, 2015) It is difficult to say no to pressure especially if you are the only one, but you can make it. Having a confidence and inner strength can help you stand strong, walk away, and endure doing something that you know what is better.

You have parents or teachers to choose your friends wisely. If you are surely choosing peers who do not use drugs, cutting classes, smoking, or lie to their parents, then you possibly do not do these things either even the other kids do. You can also try to help your friend who is having some trouble to withstand peer pressure. It would be great for a kid to join another by just saying “I`m with you, let`s go”

Don`t get guilty if you already made a mistake. Talking to your parent, teacher, or school counselor can help you feel prepared for every time you face a peer pressure. If you still face peer pressure and having some difficulties to handle, you may try to talk to someone and have advised to someone you trust.

Sources:


Lyness, D. (2015, July). Dealing with Peer Pressure. Retrieved from KidsHealth: http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/peer-pressure.html Mayo Clinic . (2017). Self Injury and Cutting. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/self-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20350950

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