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| A young girl is pressured into drinking |
In recent years, the spotlight has really been shined on the causes and effects of peer pressure. Peer pressure is the name given to the influence of other members of a particular group of peers that encourages any activity on to an observer. Peer pressure can be both direct and indirect. The way people have been able to indirectly influence people is when everyone is drinking at a party but you, and in order to feel welcome or fit in, you drink too, or when you see someone smoking, you want to smoke also to look cool like them, or show them that you have a sense of common ground. People conform to what their peers are doing, afraid that they will be left behind. Peer pressure is something younger audiences face almost daily, especially in highschool, ranging from how they dress, to smoking weed and cigarettes. During highschool years, many kids begin experimenting with drugs and alcohol, having parties on the weekends. When kids who never have been under the influence arrive, they see everyone else drinking or smoking and feel left out being sober. Fitting in has always been a major problem for many highschoolers, and at the time, seems to be one of the most important things for them. The image of highschool being the "glory days" make kids feel more inclined to want to have a good time, and be a little bit more reckless. The negative effects of peer pressure is that it can lead kids to make bad judgement calls, and maybe engage in recklessness they might regret later on such as engaging in sexual behaviors while intoxicated or driving under the influence. Inversely though, peer pressure can also be positive, such as going to educational places like the library or reading, getting good grades, or studying.
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| Girl questions if she wants to smoke.. |
Peer pressure? You mean beer pressure? (See what I did there?) I've been through that situation before. I don't really like drinking and my friends are always pressuring me to drink. I say no of course but when it comes to other people they tend to "give in" and do what their peers say they should do. It really makes me think that people are losing their minds. Can't they think for themselves for just once? Why jump the bandwagon of the drinking party or drug fest just because you're the only one who's not in it? I do see why people say "it's cool" or to "fit in" but if these people don't respect you as an individual, I don't see why people should continue spending their time with them. Bad influences will always be bad influences...
ReplyDeleteBut yeah I do agree with the positive side of peer pressure when it comes to improving one's self such as school work. You just need the little push to start working. This builds confidence and character. For the negative side of it such as peer pressure of drinking or doing drugs, same thing does apply. That little push can do so much to you... it's scary and kind of cool at the same time depending on which side you end up of course...