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Speech On Peer Pressure [1,2,3 Minutes]

In today’s competitive environment, everyone feels peer pressure. Some people consider it to be helpful while others believe peer pressure is not always beneficial. Hence, It has become an important issue to discuss and find out the advantages and disadvantages of peer pressure.

In this article, there are many examples of speech on peer pressure of 1, 2 and 3 minutes in duration. It will also help you understand a short and simple definition, the types, and the purpose of peer pressure. This will help you write a good speech.

1 Minute Speech On Peer Pressure

Hello and welcome all of you gathered here. I am here to share my thoughts on peer pressure.

If you are a student, your classmates are your peers. If you are an employee, your colleagues are. The actions of your peers impact you in a positive way or a negative way. These actions drive you to do the same irrespective of what your goals are.

Peer pressure drives you to think of a competitor to your group. This way, people suffer from anxiety and depression. This is why peer pressure is considered a negative term. It completely depends on the person who handles it. Only he or she can get the advantages of peer pressure.

Dealing with peer pressure is an art. If one knows how to use it to help in growth, it can be proved helpful. Hence, it becomes important to explain to children the ways to handle peer pressure in earlier stages of life so that they lead a stress-free life. Thank you!

Short Speech On Peer Pressure

2-Minute Speech On Peer Pressure

Before I deliver my speech I would like to wish you all the best wishes & I also want to thank you a lot for having me a chance to share my views on this important topic i.e. peer pressure.

What is peer pressure? Some of us understand it well. Anyway, I want to explain it in my own words. Please let me know if I say anything wrong.

Here is an important word “peer” to be understood clearly. The word “ Peer ” comes from the Latin which means equal . A peer is someone at your own level. For example; if you are a 12th grader, your classmates are your peers.

“As we know that we are social creatures. We want to grow on the same level as others in the society. This aspiration of growth drives us to be competitive with others . Also, this leaves a pressure on our psychological health. This pressure is simply called peer pressure.”

Now, a question arises in the mind; Is peer pressure beneficial? Different people have different thoughts on this. Some people consider it to be helpful while others believe peer pressure is not always beneficial. Hence, It has become an important issue to discuss and find out the advantages and disadvantages of peer pressure.

If we think unbiased, peer pressure is neither beneficial nor harmful. It has some positive and some negative impacts. On the one hand, Peer pressure helps students to motivate to do extraordinary. On the other hand, it can cause them to suffer from fear of failure.

Hence, it has both impacts of one side. Peer pressure is not limited to students, people feel peer pressure in each sphere of life. Most importantly, many people suffer from severe depression and anxiety. It completely depends on the person and how he handles peer pressure.

To sum it up , it becomes important to explain to children the ways to handle peer pressure in earlier stages of life so that they lead a stress-free life.

This is all thought about peer pressure. I hope it was helpful, Thank you!

Speech On Peer Pressure | 3 Minutes

I warmly welcome all of you gathered here. I am here to deliver a speech on peer pressure. Before I start my speech, I would like to wish you a good day. Also, I want to thank you for having me this valuable opportunity.

Peer pressure is an important issue in contemporary times. I think some of us are well aware of what is peer pressure but I want to explain it so that everyone here can understand the topic well.

Peer pressure is pressure left by our peers. Now, we need to understand who are our peers. The word “ Peer ” comes from the Latin which means equal . A peer is someone at your own level. For example; If you are an employee, your colleagues are your peers.

Peer pressure is classified into many types but it has two main types; positive and negative peer pressure. For example; When your peers achieve a milestone, you compare yourself to them and start working for the same. This is called positive peer pressure .

Opposite to this, when your smoker friends push you to smoke as they believe it to be cool. This is called negative peer pressure . Sometimes you want to say no but peer pressure drives you to make poor choices by not saying “no”. This tendency lowers your self-esteem.

Hence, peer pressure has both negative and positive impacts. It completely depends on the person and how he or she handles peer pressure. Most importantly, many people suffer from severe depression and anxiety and peer pressure can be of any kind.

To avoid the negative impacts of peer pressure, one needs to make decisions wisely. In this process, one can practice some of the common practices. Some of them are;

1. Learn to Say “No”

Saying no is an important ritual for avoiding doing things you don’t want to do. Explain clear reasons behind your refusal. If your peers don’t understand, you should leave their company.

2. Make Friends with similar values

People develop their personalities according to the values received. If you make friends who have similar values, they will understand you well and not force you to do something.

3. Get Away from the pressure Zone

One of the best methods to prevent peer pressure is to walk away from where you feel negative peer pressure. You can spend time alone to figure out your goals and ways.

To sum it up, our brain is our greatest tool that can help us find solutions for every kind of problem. Just find out your ways to eliminate negative peer pressure from the equation. Thank you!

Long Speech On Peer Pressure

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Speech on Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is a part of life, especially during your growing up years. It’s when you feel pushed to act or think in a certain way by your friends. It can be both positive and negative, depending upon what you’re being influenced to do. It’s crucial to understand and manage it well to avoid its potential harms.

1-minute Speech on Peer Pressure

Ladies and gentlemen, let’s talk about peer pressure. This is when friends or people our age try to convince us to do something. It can feel like we’re being pushed into doing things that we don’t really want to do. But remember, we always have a choice.

Sometimes, peer pressure can make us do good things. For example, it can push us to study harder, join a sports team, or help others. This is a positive side of peer pressure. It shows us that we can inspire each other to do better and be better.

But there’s another side to peer pressure. It’s the side that makes us feel uncomfortable, or even scared. This is when friends try to convince us to do things that we know are wrong. Like cheating on a test, or treating someone badly. This kind of pressure can make us feel trapped and confused.

So, what can we do about it? We can stand strong. We can say no. We can walk away. It’s not easy, but it’s important. We should never let anyone force us to do something we don’t want to do.

Remember, it’s okay to be different. It’s okay to make our own choices. Our real friends will respect us for it. And if they don’t, then maybe they’re not really our friends after all.

In conclusion, peer pressure can be a force for good or bad. But the power is in our hands. We can choose to stand up, to be brave, and to do what’s right. Let’s be the kind of friends who lift each other up, not pull each other down. Let’s be strong against peer pressure. Thank you.

2-minute Speech on Peer Pressure

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Peer pressure is something all of us have experienced in our lives. It is that force that makes us do things because others are doing them. It’s like a strong wind that can either push us forward or pull us back. Today, let’s talk about it in very simple terms.

Imagine being on a football field. Your friends are cheering you on to score a goal. That’s good peer pressure. It encourages you to do your best, to achieve something worthwhile. This is the positive side of peer pressure that sometimes, we overlook. It can be a force for good, pushing us to new heights and inspiring us to try new things.

But, like a coin, peer pressure has another side too. It is when you feel forced to act or think in a certain way due to the fear of not fitting in. Imagine a friend offering you a cigarette. You know it’s bad for your health, but you take it anyway because you don’t want to feel left out. This is negative peer pressure. It can lead to bad decisions and make us stray from our core values.

Peer pressure can often make us feel like we’re stuck in a tough spot. You might feel like you’re standing at a crossroad, unsure of which way to go. But remember, it’s okay to say no. It’s okay to choose your own path. You don’t have to follow the crowd all the time. Your true friends will respect your decisions, even if they are different from theirs.

Remember, you are unique, special, and there’s no one else like you in the world. Don’t let others make decisions for you. Peer pressure can be tough to deal with, but like a ship in a storm, you can navigate through it. Be your own captain, steer your ship in the direction you want to go, not where the wind of peer pressure pushes you.

In conclusion, peer pressure is a part of our lives. It can be good or bad. It’s up to us to decide how we let it affect us. We should embrace the positive side of peer pressure and use it to reach our goals. But when it comes to negative peer pressure, we should be brave enough to say no.

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Peer Pressure Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on peer pressure.

Peer pressure can be both negative and positive. Because if a person is a peer pressuring you for a good cause then it is motivation. Motivation is essential for the growth of a person. While peer pressure for a bad cause will always lead you to a disastrous situation.

Peer Pressure Essay

Therefore it necessary for a person to not get influenced by the people around them. They should analyze the outcome of the deed in a strict manner. So that they no may commit anything harmful for themselves. As this world is full of bad people, so you need to be careful before trusting anybody.

Advantages of Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is advantageous in many ways. Most importantly it creates a sense of motivation in the person. Which further forces the person to cross the barrier and achieve something great. Furthermore, it boosts the confidence of a person. Because our brain considers people’s opinions and makes them a priority.

Many salesmen and Entrepreneurs use this technique to influence people to buy their products. Whenever we are in a social meet we always get various recommendations. Therefore when a person gets these recommendations the brain already starts liking it. Or it creates a better image of that thing. This forces the person to buy the product or at least consider it.

This peer pressure technique also works in creating a better character of a person. For instance, when we recommend someone for a particular job, the interviewer already gets a better image of that person. Because he is recommended by a person the interviewer trusts. Therefore there is a great chance of that person to get hired.

Above all the main advantage of peer pressure can be in youth. If a young person gets influenced by an individual or a group of people. He can achieve greater heights in his career.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Disadvantages of Peer Pressure

There are various disadvantages of peer pressure which can harm a person in many ways. If any person is not willing to perform a task then the peer pressure can be frustrating to him.

Furthermore, peer pressure should not be in an excessive manner. Because it lands a negative impact on the person. A person should be of the mindset of listening to himself first. While considering opinions in favor of him.

Peer pressure in youth from a bad company can lead a person to a nasty situation. Furthermore, it can also hamper a student’s career and studies if not averted. Youth these days are much influenced by the glamorous life of celebrities.

And since they follow them so much, these people become their peers. Thus they do such things that they should not. Drugs and smoking are major examples of this. Moreover most shocking is that the minors are even doing these things. This can have adverse effects on their growth and career.

It is necessary to judge the outcome of a deed before getting influenced by peers. Furthermore, peer pressure should always be secondary. Your own thoughts and wants should always have the first priority.

Q1. What is peer pressure?

A1 . Peer pressure is the influence on people by their peers. As a result, people start following their opinions and lifestyle. Furthermore, it is considering a person or his opinion above all and giving him the priority.

Q2. Which sector of the society is the peer pressure adversely affecting?

A2 . Peer pressure has adverse effects on the youth of society. Some false influencers are playing with the minds of the youngsters. As a result, the youth is going in the wrong direction and ruining their career opportunities.

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What to Know About Peer Pressure

It's not as simple as just saying no

write a speech on peer pressure

  • Positive Peer Pressure

Peer Pressure vs. Parental Influence

Peer pressure beyond childhood.

Have you ever been pressured to have "one more drink," or stay out later than you said you'd be home? If so, you've been a victim of peer pressure—chances are, most of us have. Peer pressure is the process by which members of the same social group influence other members to do things that they may be resistant to, or might not otherwise choose to do.

Peers are people who are part of the same social group, so the term "peer pressure" refers to the influence that peers can have on each other. Usually, the term peer pressure is used when people are talking about behaviors that are not considered socially acceptable or desirable, such as experimentation with alcohol or drugs. According to child and adolescent psychiatrist Akeem Marsh, MD , "it’s very easy to be influenced by peer pressure as we humans are wired as social creatures."

sturti / Getty Images

Though peer pressure is not usually used to describe socially desirable behaviors, such as exercising or studying, peer pressure can have positive effects in some cases.

What Is an Example of Peer Pressure?

Peer pressure causes people to do things they would not otherwise do with the hope of fitting in or being noticed.

For adolescents, peer relationships are the most important of all thus leading to an increased susceptibility to peer pressure.

Things people may be peer pressured into doing include:

  • Acting aggressively (common among men)
  • Bullying others
  • Doing drugs
  • Dressing a certain way
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Engaging in vandalism or other criminal activities
  • Physically fighting
  • Only socializing with a certain group

Peer pressure or the desire to impress their peers can override a teen or tween's fear of taking risks, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Kids. Risky behavior with drugs and/or alcohol may result in the following:

  • Alcohol or drug poisoning
  • Asphyxiation
  • Driving under the influence (of alcohol or other drugs)
  • Sexually transmitted diseases

Behavioral Addiction

People can also feel an internal pressure to participate in activities and behaviors they think their peers are doing, which can put them at risk for the following behavioral addictions:

  • Food addiction
  • Gambling addiction
  • Internet addiction
  • Sex addiction
  • Shopping addiction
  • Video game addiction

In the case of teens, parents are rarely concerned about the peer pressure their kids may face to engage in sports or exercise, as these are typically seen as healthy social behaviors. This is OK, as long as the exercise or sport does not become an unhealthy way of coping, excessive to the point of negatively affecting their health, or dangerous (as in dangerous sports).

What starts out as positive peer pressure may become negative pressure if it leads a person to over-identify with sports, for example, putting exercise and competition above all else.

If taken to an extreme, they may develop exercise addiction , causing them to neglect schoolwork and social activities, and ultimately, use exercise and competition in sports as their main outlet for coping with the stresses of life. This can also lead to numerous health consequences.

What Are Examples of Positive Peer Pressure?

We tend to hear more about the potentially negative effects of peer pressure. But the reality is, peer pressure can also be positive. For instance, two friends might put positive pressure on each other to go to the gym together and stay accountable for their fitness goals.

Teens who volunteer in their community can keep each other motivated to participate. This involvement can lead to exposure to role models and eventually lead to the teens becoming positive role models themselves.

You can also positively peer pressure others by the way you respond to situations. For instance, if your friend is body-shaming another person, you can say, "Actually, it can be really harmful to criticize people's bodies like that."

In turn, your friend might reconsider criticizing people based on their appearance. By simply adhering to your own values and sharing them with a friend, you can positively peer pressure them to think before making a negative comment.

Although parents worry about the influence of peers, overall, parents also can have a strong influence on whether children succumb to negative peer pressure.

Rather than worrying about the effects of their children's friendships, parents would do well to focus on creating a positive, supportive home environment. That way, even if your child is peer pressured to do something they don't want to do, they'll feel comfortable coming to you to talk about it first.

Role modeling good emotional self-regulation may also help your child stick to their own values when it comes to peer pressure. Self-regulation involves the ability to control thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in order to manage current behavior and achieve long-term goals.

This will teach your child positive ways of solving problems and coping with uncomfortable feelings , rather than trying to escape by doing things to fit into a crowd. Parents can balance the peer pressure to take potentially harmful risks by ensuring they set appropriate boundaries, provide support, and help avoid risks. A few examples:

  • Pick up your child from events where alcohol or drugs may have been consumed.
  • Provide balanced, truthful information on issues such as alcohol and drug use.
  • Stay involved in your child's life. Believe it or not, you are one of their biggest influences and they listen when you talk.
  • Urge the importance of thinking before doing. Teach teens to ask themselves questions like: Could this harm me or someone else? Will this put my health or safety at risk? Is it legal? What are the long-term consequences for my health, family, education, and future?

As parents, we must be mindful of the impact of peer pressure on ourselves as our children will be observing and take notice.

Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to peer pressure because they are at a stage of development when they are separating more from their parents' influence, but have not yet established their own values or understanding of human relationships or the consequences of their behavior.

They are also typically striving for social acceptance and are more willing to engage in behaviors against their better judgment to be accepted.

However, adults are also vulnerable to peer pressure. Many adults are susceptible to drinking too much because their friends are doing it, or putting work before family because they're competing with other people in their office for a promotion.

Being aware of, and carefully choosing the influence of peers that will lead to healthy and happy experiences is a lifelong process.

How to Deal With Peer Pressure

Dealing with peer pressure can be difficult, but below are some ways to help address it.

Take Your Time

Instead of quickly agreeing to do something you'd rather not do, pause and take a few deep breaths . If someone is waiting for you to answer them, tell them you need to take a few days and think about it. It's easier to resist the pressure when you put some time and space between yourself and the situation.

Consider Your Reasons

When you're faced with a choice, ask yourself what your reasons are for doing something. If it's because all of your friends are doing it and you're afraid they won't talk to you if you don't join them, then you may want to reconsider.

You deserve to surround yourself with supportive people who respect your decisions—not people who pressure you into doing something that doesn't feel right.

Set Boundaries

Saying "no" can be hard, but it's necessary to set healthy boundaries in relationships . If someone persistently pressures you to do something, you can try telling them how it affects you.

For instance, you might say something like, "It upsets me when you offer me a cigarette when you know I don't smoke. I won't be able to keep hanging out with you if you don't respect my answer."

Offer an Alternative

It's possible that a friend who is peer pressuring you simply wants to spend more time with you or connect with you, but they don't know how else to ask.

If they pressure you to do shots with them at the bar when you aren't drinking, for example, you might suggest that you both hit the dance floor instead. Or maybe, you make a plan to go on a hike or to the movies the next time you hang out. That way, you're fulfilling both of your needs in a mutually beneficial way.

Clark DA, Donnellan MB, Durbin CE, et al. Sex, drugs, and early emerging risk: Examining the association between sexual debut and substance use across adolescence . PLoS ONE. 2020;15(2):e0228432. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0228432

Stanaland A, Gaither S. “Be a man”: The role of social pressure in eliciting men’s aggressive cognition . Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2021;47(11):1596-1611. doi:10.1177/0146167220984298

Sabramani V, Idris IB, Ismail H, Nadarajaw T, Zakaria E, Kamaluddin MR. Bullying and its associated individual, peer, family and school factors: Evidence from Malaysian National Secondary School students .  Int J Environ Res Public Health . 2021;18(13):7208. doi:10.3390/ijerph18137208

Kim J, Fletcher JM. The influence of classmates on adolescent criminal activities in the United States .  Deviant Behav . 2018;39(3):275-292. doi:10.1080/01639625.2016.1269563

National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens. Why Does Peer Pressure Influence Teens To Try Drugs? .

Pamela Rackow, Urte Scholz, Rainer Hornung.  Received social support and exercising: An intervention study to test the enabling hypothesis .  British Journal of Health Psychology , 2015;20(4):763. doi:10.1111/bjhp.12139

Vogel L. Fat shaming is making people sicker and heavier .  CMAJ . 2019;191(23):E649. doi:10.1503/cmaj.109-5758

Dhull P, Beniwal RD. Dealing with peer pressure . Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal. 2017;7.

By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada. 

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Speaking of Psychology: The good and bad of peer pressure, with Brett Laursen, PhD

When a school year begins, students are dealing with new classes, sports and other school-related activities. Most students will also face the challenges of peer pressure. Psychologist Brett Laursen , PhD, talks about the science behind peer pressure and what parents can do to help their kids.

About the expert: Brett Laursen, PhD

Brett Laursen, PhD

Streaming Audio

Audrey Hamilton: When a new school year begins, students are dealing with classes, sports and other extra-curricular activities. Most students will also face an entirely different set of challenges with peer pressure. Parents may notice a change in how their child dresses or behaves at home. How much of this is related to their friends' influence and how should parents address peer pressure with their children. In this podcast, we talk with a psychologist who looks at the science behind peer pressure, both the good and the bad.

Brett Laursen is a professor of psychology at Florida Atlantic University, where his research focuses on how children and teens interact with their peers and parents. Specifically, he studies how these relationships affect their social lives and academics. Dr. Laursen is a fellow of the American Psychological Association. Welcome.

Brett Laursen: Thanks. It's a pleasure to speak with you.

Audrey Hamilton: When does peer pressure typically begin to occur in children's lives and what impact does it have on child and adolescent development?

Brett Laursen: Before we tackle that question, I think it's important to define peer pressure. If we define peer- pressure as essentially, influence, then I think we can see that peer pressure begins very early on. But, it's not often the way that parents and adults think of it. You have explicit peer pressure and you have implicit peer pressure. So, let me give you an example. I know of a young man who just started middle school and started it with long hair and a couple of months into middle school he got his hair cut very short. This could have been because somebody made fun of his long hair. That would be the explicit form of peer pressure. But, it could also be very implicit. He could have wanted to fit in. He could have been eager to make new friends, other kids with short hair who didn't want them to be off put by his long hair. He could have thought this was some form of status – that people with short hair appear to have more status than people with long hair. We don't know, in this particular instance and we often don't really know exactly if it's one or the other and typically, it's probably a combination of things. So, when we think about peer pressure, we're really talking about influence to behave differently, that's exerted by peers.

So, when does it begin?

It begins as soon as children start to pay attention to what other children think about them. So, we can see peer influence in the very early grade school years. We see it over behavior problems where one set of peers will influence another to act badly. We also see it over academic achievement where friends do better when they're paired with other kids who are doing better in school. We see this as early as first grade. Our data in both Finland and the U.S. suggest that these influences happen with very young children.

Audrey Hamilton: Why are some children and teens more susceptible to peer pressure than others? You see some kids that generally seem to just do their own thing and not care what other children think of them, but that's not always the case and why are some of them more susceptible to that?

Brett Laursen: We're still working to disentangle the notion of susceptibility from the notion of being really influential. So, on the one hand, there are some children who are susceptible to influence from anyone – that is to say that whatever comes down the pike they're likely to follow. But, it's also the case that some people are more influential and so, if you hang around with people who tend to be particularly influential, you will look susceptible even though you're not particularly susceptible. It just happens to be that you're hanging around with others who are highly influential.

So, I'll try to address that question, but I want to put that big caveat out there first because if you're hanging around with somebody who's very persuasive and who has a lot of social skills, you may look susceptible when in fact you're not particularly susceptible to other people. It just has to do with those that you spend your time with. So, we know that susceptibility is greater for children who don't have a lot of friends. They want to protect the friendships that they have, and so they're more likely to do what their friends say because they're worried about losing their friends and have difficulty making others. Younger children who hang around with older children are susceptible to influence. Paradoxically, being popular may make you susceptible to influence. This one is a little bit up in the air, but it may be that popular kids in some domains worry about protecting their status and so, they're more likely to be influenced to be seen doing things that they should be seen doing even if they don't want to do them because otherwise they fear their status will diminish in the eyes of their peers.

Audrey Hamilton: What about any difference between boys and girls when it comes to peer pressure?

Brett Laursen: We don't have firm evidence on this but I can tell you this much is for sure. Boys spend much more time in groups than girls whereas girls spend their time; tend to spend their time in friendship dyads. And so, the influence that boys receive is much more likely to be concerned with fitting into the group as a whole. And so, boys need the approval of a larger group of peers whereas girls are much more focused on getting along with one or another particular individual. And so, we probably are going to see more individual influence on girls whereas boys are going to be more apt to be susceptible to forces from the group, as a whole.

Audrey Hamilton: And I'm sure there are some parents that are listening to this wondering what can they do to help children recognize and deal appropriately with peer pressure?

Brett Laursen: It's a good question. The first thing I think that parents can do is that they can help children recognize that attempts to influence them are everywhere. You can't turn around without somebody attempting to influence you. They want you to eat this or buy that or watch this or listen to that. So one of the first things we can do is we can help children understand that our culture is full of influence attempts and peers are just another set of forces that are vying for our attention and are vying to shape our behavior. So once children start to see that there are these influences everywhere, that's really the first step of the process. So, you recognize when there are influence attempts going on and you can start to label them and recognize them and label them and recognize them and children become more adept at recognizing and labeling them and identifying them, then you can start to talk with them about is that the kind of influence you want to be shaped by. Is that something that you want to be susceptible to? And if not, we start to talk about how we might resist that influence. But, it's much easier to resist influence if you've thought about your strategy beforehand. It's a teen going to a party and there's going to be somebody drinking there. Is that something that you want to resist or not? Certainly, you want to tell your teen that what are your strategies for if the person who was driving decides to drink? What are your strategies for not getting in the car? What is your strategy for finding a way home that won't involve driving with somebody who has been drinking? So, recognizing that there's influence out there, and it's not necessarily over influence. There's going to be a lot of covert, of implicit influence and that influence is just the same as all the other influence and children need to be sensitive to that.

Parents can serve as a buffer against peer-influence. We know that children who have good relations with their parents feel that they have less of a need to please their friends. So, I'll give you an example of one set of research findings that we have from work that we have done in Sweden.

Children who have friends who are really burned out on school – who report that they are tired of school – if your friend is a high burnout on school, then you're much more likely to feel less interested in school. School engagement is going to drop over the course of a year unless you report really strong relations with your parents. And so having a good relationship with your parents is going to buffer you against this adverse peer influence.

Audrey Hamilton: Some of what you're talking about – a lot of what you're talking about is negative peer-influence, but some of your research has looked at how peer-influence can be a positive factor in a child's life. What are some examples of that and what can children and teenagers do to develop these kinds of relationships? Brett Laursen: Well, if you think about it logically, it can't possibly be the case that all peer influence is bad or else children would all, inevitably end up as juvenile delinquents because influence would be negative and more negative and more negative and everyone would be susceptible to it. So, there has to be, there has to be some area of push back. There has to be some area where peers are good. We know that kids are going to be influenced for better or for worse by whoever is the more influential partner. So, if we take two friends out and we know that one is particularly influential – let's say the one who has more friend options or the one who is older or the one who is doing better in school or the one who is more attractive – whatever – the one who is more influential is going to set the tone for the influence. So, if the one who is more influential doesn't like to drink, then we have data that suggests that actually teens desist from alcohol consumption. That the lower, the less influential member of the group is going to desist from drinking because they want to be more like the more influential one. We see the same thing that the levels of delinquency will go down, as well. So it all depends on the characteristics of the more influential partner and the same is true in a group. The group leaders. So, the more the group leaders have a positive agenda, the more that other children are more likely to be influenced by that positive agenda. So, if you belong to a group where everyone is physically active, you're going to be physically active. There's a big "except" for this. Except for if you really don't want to do this, then you're likely to drop out of that group or not be friends with those particular individuals anymore. You are going to go and select people who are more like you and under those circumstances, when children are de-selected from groups or drop out of friendships, then they go and look for kids who have more similar levels of perhaps drinking or deviance and then they may be inclined to be influenced in a different direction.

Audrey Hamilton: Does peer pressure follow people into adulthood or is there a point in life when it becomes less of a factor?

Brett Laursen: For sure, peer pressure follows people across their whole life course. But, you're going to receive in different ways from different people. So, are adults susceptible to peer pressure? I think the answer is, of course! Last night, I went to back to school night for my children and I was very impressed by the whole string of SUV's that arrived and out of the SUV's got moms with very similar haircuts and very similar length of heels and dads who all look like they have gone shopping at the same place who differed only in terms of whether or not they wore a tie.

Audrey Hamilton: Right. All had the smartphones.

Brett Laursen: There's no question that we're susceptible to peer-influence and this proceeds across the course of our life. As we get older, we form romantic relationships and we get married, then different peers influence us. But, it's still peer influence, nevertheless.

Audrey Hamilton: Yeah, well great. Thank you so much for joining us, Dr. Laursen.

Brett Laursen: Pleasure was mine. Thank you.

Audrey Hamilton: For more information, please visit our website . Thank you for joining us. I'm Audrey Hamilton with the American Psychological Association's "Speaking of Psychology."

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Peer Pressure in Society Personal Essay

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Every single person has experienced peer pressure in their lives. Every single person has experienced peer pressure in their lives. Social life implies regular communication with various people that may impose their views on somebody. Such a contradiction between one’s own beliefs and the community’s values may affect a person rather harshly. The desire to conform does not make it easier for the person to blend in if the societal values do not resonate with their own. The individual beliefs often go in contrast with the societal standards which can cause the rejection or contempt by the community. The peer pressure of various characteristics due to the community’s contradicting desire can lead to moral decay or psychological illness in a person.

People of all ages are subjected to peer pressure; it happens not only in childhood but also in adulthood. Children are the most susceptible to it because of the forming identity and relationships. The main character in Salvation by Hughes was only twelve when he faced peer pressure to convert and join Jesus in a church. He could not handle the pressure and cried at night because of his disturbed morality as he “could not bear to tell her that he had lied” and did not see Jesus (2). The outcome of this decision was his hopelessness and belief that “there was a Jesus anymore” caused by the church congregation’s provocation (Hughes 2). Adults appear to be less influenced by their peers due to formed personality and consciousness, but the character of Orwell’s novel still silently suffered after killing the elephant. He experienced a complex societal dilemma when the boy realized his role in imperial society and the natives’ expectations towards a white person.

It may as well be spoken or unspoken, direct or indirect. The boy was affected by both types, but his peer’s spoken commentary on the bench influenced him the most. The boy’s perception was significantly affected because of the one-to-one environment, where the recipient is the most perspective. The praying group around him also gradually increased the tension and pressure. The dilemma the man faced inside his head, on the contrary, was unspoken. He did not specifically get the order to kill, nor the crowd told him, but he felt the pressure. The man realized that the action he took would significantly alter the societal opinion of him as he felt the unspoken crowd’s desire. Either way, peer pressure puts a person in a position of deciding on the spot. Indirect peer pressure is more subtle, like killing an elephant when the character saw the excited faces in the crowd as he was aiming the gun and felt a strong influence towards obeying their will.

Peer pressure does not necessarily have to negative; it can also promote positive action. The man experienced negative peer pressure, having to kill an elephant. The boy, on the other hand, was forced to engage in a somewhat positive activity. However, he did not seem to enjoy joining the prayers and his salvation at all. It turned out to be a painful experience causing a complete loss of faith. It appears that no matter what sort of activity a person is prompt into doing, it may still largely contradict a person’s values and beliefs. Such an action can cause pain and even lead to trauma. The man who was forced to kill an elephant felt a strong contradiction between his own desire and the crowd’s desire, which confused him. He disregarded his own belief that “it would be murder to shoot him” (Orwell 3) and suffered by watching an elephant die. He did not cry and looked rather indifferent than the boy, but he also suffered as he betrayed his principles and morality.

Peer pressure is inevitable as we live in society where every community and group of people have their own beliefs. It helps to maintain societal order but is often dismissive of individual struggles. Imposing these beliefs may often be rather aggressive and cause a person to suffer. Unfortunately, there is no power over society’s values as it is the majority. However, we have the power of what to do about these standards. The choice and responsibility of a decision we make under pressure still depends on us.

Works Cited

Hughes, Langston. “Salvation.” The Big Sea: An Autobiography . 2nd ed., Hill and Wang, 1993, pp. 18-21.

Orwell, George. Shooting an Elephant . Penguin Books, 2009.

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Peer Pressure Persuasive speech

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Persuasive Speech – Peer Pressure

Good Afternoon.

I am standing here today to defend our rights and our liberty of freedom to decide. Would you do something that you do not want, like smoking or dealing or doing drugs or drinking alcohol in order to “fit in”? Let me tell you that you are violating yourself as a person If your answer is yes, because you are not staying true to yourself and you are making some other person treat you like a puppet, by making you do things that can hurt, ruin and damage your body.

I am a high school student, so this means I am around this kind of things all the time. All this peer pressure starts because they tell you that if you don’t do something, like deal drugs, or smoke or alcohol, you are not part of the group because there is no reason not to do it.  They often tell you that if you do drink alcohol you´ll get into a state of “happiness” and you will have a much better time, they also tell you that nothing bad is going to happen. But is this even true? Will you have a better time in your state of “happiness” unaware of what you are doing, or being sober, when your brain can clearly function?

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Most kids are terrified that if they don’t do this they will be alone, with no friends, and they will appear childish, and they´ll think they are going to die because their social status is going to crash, because of what their friends tell them. So they accept to the offer, because they don’t want to be the only ones not drinking or smoking, they become someone they are not, only to keep having your “friends”. But are they really their friends? They are treating them like some toy they can take around, telling them what do or what not only to stay with them, if not they throw you out and tell everyone that you are a kid because you don’t do that. But smoking, dealing or doing drugs and drinking alcohol is damaging both the body and the mind because then teenagers do not know who they are and what is right and what is wrong because they are being fooled by their friends that what they believe isn’t true, that there is not going to be any consequences. Once you start you think that everything is going to be the same. But is it?

After this step you can’t ever go back to how it was before, your old self gets lost behind, you cross the line to the wrong side, you start drinking, then you start smoking, then drugs and there you don’t realize that because of the peer pressure and not staying true to yourself and not being able to say “no”, and being fooled by your friends, who are in the same situation, you can end up in a hospital with lung cancer, AID´s or alcoholism coma.

What happens to most teenagers is that they don’t realize that they are doing a wrong thing; they loose conscience of what is right and what is wrong. And only gain that conscience when they get to the extreme. They are so self-centered in not loosing their “friends” that they do not realize that they are ruining their bodies and power of decision. Nobody tells them that they are losing themselves.

So if you are one of these teenagers, being ordered by another one to do things you don’t want to, gain that conscience that you can always start to be true to yourself again. Don’t be a coward, say “No!” don’t be afraid to defend your rights, and if your social group doesn’t understand that, find another one that accepts you for who you are, not for what to do. It is not the end of the world, if you are conscious of what you are doing, you can find your true self that is lost somewhere inside of you, and leave that part of you who only follows other people’s rules. Because that is what you are doing, obeying them.

If you have a friend who is going through this, help him or her, because this can end up badly. If it is difficult to do, there are organizations that can help.

But remember that you always have to stay true to yourself, no matter what happens or what people tell you. Learn to say no, and do what you want and believe in you, not what other persons tell you to do.

Thank you for your time.

I hope you understand the consequences peer pressure can lead and you know that there are solutions, so that you can actually enjoy your time in high school by just being you

Peer Pressure Persuasive speech

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  • Word Count 821
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  • Subject English

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How Peer Pressure Affects Everyday Students

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IELTS Essay: Peer Pressure

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IELTS Essay: Peer Pressure

This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of media instead of peer pressure from the real IELTS exam.

I write the essays on my blog for free for all students. If you want to support me to keep making materials, sign up for my full, exclusive IELTS EBooks here:

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Young people are often influenced in their behaviors by others in the same age group. Some argue that peer pressure is important while others feel it has distinct disadvantages.

Do the disadvantages of peer pressure outweigh the advantages?

Peer pressure refers to the influence young individuals experience within the same age group, affecting their behaviors. This essay will critically evaluate the drawbacks and benefits of peer pressure on young people.

Peer pressure often leads young individuals to engage in risky behaviors. For instance, teenagers may feel compelled to experiment with drugs due to the effect of their peers who engage in such activities. The desire to fit in and be accepted can override their better judgment, exposing them to serious short-term health risks and potential addiction later in life. Moreover, succumbing to negative peer pressure can adversely affect academic performance, as students may prioritize social acceptance over their studies. This desire for approval can result in poor grades, limited educational opportunities, and long-term negative consequences.

On the other hand, positive peer pressure can inspire young individuals to set higher goals, adopt healthier habits, and strive for academic excellence. Many teenagers are pressured by their peers to join a study group, leading to improved learning outcomes and academic success. Relatedly, supportive friends can inspire young individuals to engage in physical fitness activities or pursue positive hobbies and talents, promoting a healthier and more well-rounded lifestyle. This sense of camaraderie and mutual encouragement fostered within positive peer groups can contribute significantly to personal growth and self-confidence. Actively seeking out positive and active peer groups and engaging in behaviors aligned with one’s personal values can help mitigate the adverse effects of negative peer pressure while harnessing the advantages of positive influence.

In conclusion, although peer pressure encourages risky behaviors and hinders personal growth, the motivational and emotional advantage make it a positive on the whole. Ultimately, striking some degree of balance between independence and positive peer interactions is crucial to minimizing the disadvantages and embracing the benefits.

1. Peer pressure refers to the influence young individuals experience within the same age group, affecting their behaviors. 2. This essay will critically evaluate the drawbacks and benefits of peer pressure on young people.

  • Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
  • Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here .

1. Peer pressure often leads young individuals to engage in risky behaviors. 2. For instance, teenagers may feel compelled to experiment with drugs due to the effect of their peers who engage in such activities. 3. The desire to fit in and be accepted can override their better judgment, exposing them to serious short-term health risks and potential addiction later in life. 4. Moreover, succumbing to negative peer pressure can adversely affect academic performance, as students may prioritize social acceptance over their studies. 5. This desire for approval can result in poor grades, limited educational opportunities, and long-term negative consequences.

  • Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
  • Explain your main idea.
  • Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
  • Keep developing it fully.
  • Use specific examples.

1. On the other hand, positive peer pressure can inspire young individuals to set higher goals, adopt healthier habits, and strive for academic excellence. 2. Many teenagers are pressured by their peers to join a study group, leading to improved learning outcomes and academic success. 3. Relatedly, supportive friends can inspire young individuals to engage in physical fitness activities or pursue positive hobbies and talents, promoting a healthier and more well-rounded lifestyle. 4. This sense of camaraderie and mutual encouragement fostered within positive peer groups can contribute significantly to personal growth and self-confidence. 5. Actively seeking out positive and active peer groups and engaging in behaviors aligned with one’s personal values can help mitigate the adverse effects of negative peer pressure while harnessing the advantages of positive influence.

  • Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
  • Explain your new main idea.
  • Include specific details and examples.
  • Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
  • Finish the paragraph strong.

1. In conclusion, although peer pressure encourages risky behaviors and hinders personal growth, the motivational and emotional advantage make it a positive on the whole. 2. Ultimately, striking some degree of balance between independence and positive peer interactions is crucial to minimizing the disadvantages and embracing the benefits.

  • Summarise your main ideas.
  • Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here .

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

Peer pressure refers to the influence young individuals experience within the same age group , affecting their behaviors . This essay will critically evaluate the drawbacks and benefits of peer pressure on young people.

Peer pressure often leads young individuals to engage in risky behaviors. For instance, teenagers may feel compelled to experiment with drugs due to the effect of their peers who engage in such activities. The desire to fit in and be accepted can override their better judgment , exposing them to serious short-term health risks and potential addiction later in life . Moreover, succumbing to negative peer pressure can adversely affect academic performance , as students may prioritize social acceptance over their studies. This desire for approval can result in poor grades , limited educational opportunities , and long-term negative consequences .

On the other hand , positive peer pressure can inspire young individuals to set higher goals , adopt healthier habits , and strive for academic excellence . Many teenagers are pressured by their peers to join a study group , leading to improved learning outcomes and academic success . Relatedly , supportive friends can inspire young individuals to engage in physical fitness activities or pursue positive hobbies and talents , promoting a healthier and more well-rounded lifestyle . This sense of camaraderie and mutual encouragement fostered within positive peer groups can contribute significantly to personal growth and self-confidence . Actively seeking out positive and active peer groups and engaging in behaviors aligned with one’s personal values can help mitigate the adverse effects of negative peer pressure while harnessing the advantages of positive influence.

In conclusion, although peer pressure encourages risky behaviors and hinders personal growth , the motivational and emotional advantage make it a positive on the whole . Ultimately, striking some degree of balance between independence and positive peer interactions is crucial to minimizing the disadvantages and embracing the benefits.

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

Peer pressure refers to Social influence

influence Unsafe actions

within the same age group People the same age

affecting Impacting

behaviors How you act

critically evaluate Have a good opinion about

drawbacks Disadvantages

benefits Advantages

risky behaviors Dangerous actions

feel compelled to experiment with Are obligated to try

due to Because of

engage in Participate in

desire to fit in Need for belonging

be accepted Feel part of a group

override Ignore

better judgment Sound reasoning

exposing Being vulnerable to

serious short-term health risks Grave immediate health dangers

potential addiction later in life Possible future dependency

succumbing to Giving in to

adversely affect academic performance Negatively impact educational achievements

prioritize social acceptance over Care more about what people think of you

desire for approval Craving validation

result in poor grades Lead to low academic marks

limited educational opportunities Restricted learning prospects

long-term negative consequences Bad in the long run

On the other hand However

set higher goals Establish ambitious objectives

adopt healthier habits Embrace more wholesome practices

strive for academic excellence Pursue scholastic mastery

pressured by Encouraged by others

join a study group Study with others

improved learning outcomes Enhanced educational results

academic success Doing well at school

Relatedly Similarly

supportive Encouraging

inspire Encourage

engage in physical fitness activities Participate in exercise routines

pursue positive hobbies and talents Follow constructive interests and abilities

promoting a healthier and more well-rounded lifestyle Advocating for a balanced and wholesome way of living

sense of camaraderie Feeling of comradeship

mutual encouragement fostered within positive peer groups Helping each other out within a friend circle

contribute significantly to personal growth and self-confidence Play a major role in individual development and self-assurance

Actively seeking out positive and active peer groups Energetically pursuing supportive and proactive social circles

engaging in behaviors aligned with one’s personal values Participating in actions that resonate with personal principles

mitigate Lessen negatives

adverse Bad

harnessing Utilizing

encourages Promotes

hinders personal growth Impedes individual development

motivational Inspiring

emotional Sentimental

make it a positive on the whole Turn it into an overall positive experience

Ultimately In the end

striking some degree of balance between independence and positive peer interactions Finding a middle ground between being independent and engaging in positive social interactions

crucial Essential

minimizing Reducing

embracing Accepting

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search :

pɪə ˈprɛʃə rɪˈfɜːz tuː   ˈɪnfluəns   wɪˈðɪn ðə seɪm eɪʤ ɡruːp   əˈfɛktɪŋ   bɪˈheɪvjəz   ˈkrɪtɪkᵊli ɪˈvæljueɪt   ˈdrɔːbæks   ˈbɛnɪfɪts   ˈrɪski bɪˈheɪvjəz   fiːl kəmˈpɛld tuː ɪkˈspɛrɪmɛnt wɪð   djuː tuː   ɪnˈɡeɪʤ ɪn   dɪˈzaɪə tuː fɪt ɪn   biː əkˈsɛptɪd   ˌəʊvəˈraɪd   ˈbɛtə ˈʤʌʤmənt   ɪksˈpəʊzɪŋ   ˈsɪəriəs ʃɔːt-tɜːm hɛlθ rɪsks   pəˈtɛnʃᵊl əˈdɪkʃᵊn ˈleɪtər ɪn laɪf   səˈkʌmɪŋ tuː   ˈædvɜːsli əˈfɛkt ˌækəˈdɛmɪk pəˈfɔːməns   praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz ˈsəʊʃᵊl əkˈsɛptᵊns ˈəʊvə   dɪˈzaɪə fɔːr əˈpruːvᵊl   rɪˈzʌlt ɪn pɔː ɡreɪdz   ˈlɪmɪtɪd ˌɛʤʊˈkeɪʃᵊnᵊl ˌɒpəˈtjuːnətiz   ˈlɒŋtɜːm ˈnɛɡətɪv ˈkɒnsɪkwənsɪz   ɒn ði ˈʌðə hænd   sɛt ˈhaɪə ɡəʊlz   əˈdɒpt ˈhɛlθɪə ˈhæbɪts   straɪv fɔːr ˌækəˈdɛmɪk ˈɛksᵊlᵊns   ˈprɛʃəd baɪ   ʤɔɪn ə ˈstʌdi ɡruːp   ɪmˈpruːvd ˈlɜːnɪŋ ˈaʊtkʌmz   ˌækəˈdɛmɪk səkˈsɛs   rɪˈleɪtɪdli   səˈpɔːtɪv   ɪnˈspaɪə   ɪnˈɡeɪʤ ɪn ˈfɪzɪkᵊl ˈfɪtnəs ækˈtɪvətiz   pəˈsjuː ˈpɒzətɪv ˈhɒbiz ænd ˈtælᵊnts   prəˈməʊtɪŋ ə ˈhɛlθɪər ænd mɔː wɛl-ˈraʊndɪd ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl   sɛns ɒv ˌkæməˈrɑːdᵊri   ˈmjuːʧuəl ɪnˈkʌrɪʤmənt ˈfɒstəd wɪˈðɪn ˈpɒzətɪv pɪə ɡruːps   kənˈtrɪbjuːt sɪɡˈnɪfɪkᵊntli tuː ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl ɡrəʊθ ænd sɛlf-ˈkɒnfɪdᵊns   ˈæktɪvli ˈsiːkɪŋ aʊt ˈpɒzətɪv ænd ˈæktɪv pɪə ɡruːps   ɪnˈɡeɪʤɪŋ ɪn bɪˈheɪvjəz əˈlaɪnd wɪð wʌnz ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl ˈvæljuːz   ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt   ˈædvɜːs   ˈhɑːnəsɪŋ   ɪnˈkʌrɪʤɪz   ˈhaɪndəz ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl ɡrəʊθ   ˌməʊtɪˈveɪʃᵊnᵊl   ɪˈməʊʃᵊnᵊl   meɪk ɪt ə ˈpɒzətɪv ɒn ðə həʊl   ˈʌltɪmɪtli   ˈstraɪkɪŋ sʌm dɪˈɡriː ɒv ˈbælᵊns bɪˈtwiːn ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəns ænd ˈpɒzətɪv pɪər ˌɪntərˈækʃᵊnz   ˈkruːʃᵊl   ˈmɪnɪmaɪzɪŋ   ɪmˈbreɪsɪŋ  

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

P_____________________ o the i__________e young individuals experience w_________________________p , a__________g their b__________s . This essay will c____________________e the d_____________s and b______s of peer pressure on young people.

Peer pressure often leads young individuals to engage in r __________________ s. For instance, teenagers may f________________________________________h drugs d_______o the effect of their peers who e_________n such activities. The d ___________________ n and b_____________d can o_________e their b_____________t , e_____________g them to s________________________________s and p_____________________________e . Moreover, s_____________o negative peer pressure can a____________________________e , as students may p________________________________________r their studies. This d__________________l can r_____________________s , l_______________________________________s , and l____________________________________s .

O__________________d , positive peer pressure can i____________e young individuals to s_________________s , a_____________________________s , and s _________________________ e . Many teenagers are p_____________y their peers to j________________________p , leading to i________________________s and a ________________ s . R________y , s_______________e friends can i________e young individuals to e _____________________________ s or p______________________________________s , p _____________________________________________ e . This s________________________e and m___________________________________________________s can c_________________________________________________________________________________e . A________________________________________________________________________s and e________________________________________________________s can help m_________e the a_________e effects of negative peer pressure while h__________g the advantages of positive influence.

In conclusion, although peer pressure e________________s risky behaviors and h________________________h , the m___________________l and e___________l advantage m__________________________e . U____________y, s_________________________________________________________________________________________________s is c_______l to m___________g the disadvantages and e_______________g the benefits.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities :

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice :

https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/behaviour/peers-friends-trends/peer-influence

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam :

  • Do you prefer to have a lot of friends or a small group of friends?
  • What do you usually do with your friends?
  • Do you have a best friend?
  • How do friends in your country stay in touch?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below

Many people argue that in order to improve educational quality, high school students should be encouraged to question and offer criticisms on their teachers. Others think this will lead to a loss of respect and discipline in the classroom.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

IELTS Essay: High School Students

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Peer Pressure: Types, Examples, & How to Respond

Author: Silvi Saxena, MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C

Silvi Saxena MBA, MSW, LSW, CCTP, OSW-C

Silvi Saxena specializes in grief, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. She also has experience in many other areas of mental healthcare.

Peer pressure involves people within the same group influencing others in the group to engage in a behavior or activity that they may not otherwise engage in. A peer can be any individual who belongs to the same social groups or circles as you and has some type of influence over you.

Peer pressure can be avoided by thinking about your actions and if you would participate in the behavior if your social circle were not influencing or pressuring you to do so. Also, if the idea of engaging in that activity makes you uncomfortable, it’s best to listen to your inner voice and not engage in it.

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What Is Peer Pressure?

Peer pressure refers to the influence exerted on someone—usually a friend, schoolmate, or anyone with similar interest—to do something or push them towards something they may be resistant to do or may not otherwise choose to engage in. Peer pressure often involves conformity, where the person changes their behavior, values, or attitudes to align with those of their peers. 1

It’s worth noting that peer persuasion can be either positive or negative and can manifest in a variety of ways. For instance, in some cases, peer pressure can motivate people to make healthier or more responsible choices. Conversely, peer pressure can also lead people to engage in risky activities they wouldn’t normally do such as experimenting with drugs or alcohol and/or adopting self-destructive habits. 1

Who Experiences Peer Pressure?

Children and adolescents of any age can experience peer pressure in the form of engaging in risky behavior, name calling or bullying other children, or breaking rules. The pressure these children face to conform to their social circle is often the only way they feel they can belong to that group. As we get older, these feelings of needing to conform can persist.

Adults of any age are not immune to experiencing peer pressure. Peer pressure in this age group can also include risky behavior, however the consequences are more grave than those of childhood risky behaviors. Adults can experience peer pressure at work, as many adults spend a great deal of time at work and interacting with coworkers. This type of pressure can look like working the same long hours as others, persuading others to do something you wouldn’t want to do yourself, and anything in between. 2

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Peer Pressure & Social Media

Peer pressure and social media are two interrelated motivating forces that can significantly influence others, particularly young people. And while social media can provide people with valuable tools and a sense of connection, it can also have adverse effects. 3

In some instances, teenagers on social media may feel pressured to live up to what they see online like a “perfect” lifestyle and unrealistic body standards. Social networks have also created a space making young people vulnerable to engaging in unsafe behaviors like consumption of alcohol or drugs, cyberbullying, and many more unhealthy acts. Moreover, the constant need to receive feedback and peer connection can gradually turn into an internet addiction. 3

Types of Peer Pressure

There are many types of peer pressure which can be experienced at any age. Since peer pressure involves communicating some type of message, the way in which that message is communicated can be varied. You may experience very direct and clear peer pressure, at times it may be only a strong feeling, sometimes it might sound fun and other times it could sound scary and even illegal.

Types of peer pressure can include: 4

  • Spoken Peer Pressure: One individual or a group verbally asking another individual to participate in some type of behavior. In a group setting, the pressure felt is much stronger as there is power in numbers.
  • Unspoken Peer Pressure: An individual being exposed to certain behaviors, trends, or choices of others and feeling a pressure to conform.
  • Direct Peer Pressure: Very specific to behavior-based conformity and can be spoken or unspoken. Direct peer pressure can often feel heightened because of our own discomfort of the environment we’re in at that time of experiencing direct peer pressure.
  • Indirect Peer Pressure: Less invasive on our internal voice to behave a certain way, however, it can validate a behavior or activity we want to try but haven’t tried yet. It can be unspoken but also influence how we feel about ourselves.
  • Positive Peer Pressure: Can be direct, indirect, spoken, or unspoken. This is pressure felt in one-on-one situations or groups that yields positive results and healthier lifestyle choices.
  • Negative Peer Pressure: Can also be direct, indirect, spoken, or unspoken. This pressure can challenge someone to do things they may not usually do and engage in such behaviors because others are doing so and it’s a way to belong.

Effects of Peer Pressure

Although there can be positive aspects to peer influence, there can also be a range of negative consequences and intense drawbacks, particularly when it relates to teens and young adults.

Some potential impacts of peer pressure include:

  • Anxiety or depression: Trying to adapt to peer expectations, especially when they go against a person’s own values can be mentally and emotionally exhausting, eventually leading to the development of mental issues like anxiety or depression. 5
  • Distance from family and friends: When people prioritize their peer group over their family’s standards and morals, it can cause them to withdraw from and strain relationships with parents, siblings, and other family members, leading to conflict and tension at home.
  • Negative behavior changes: Peer pressure might encourage someone to start acting negatively and engage in disorderly behaviors such as bullying, truancy, stealing, etc., which can bring legal and other serious problems.
  • Potential for risky behaviors: Friends may push each other to partake in risky acts like alcohol misuse and underage drinking, experimenting with drugs, reckless driving, or unsafe sex, all of which can have major health and legal consequences. 1
  • Academic distraction: Peer pressure can derail young people from academic responsibilities where they may start neglecting schoolwork, skip classes, or engage in cheating, which can damage their educational outcomes.
  • Problems with self-esteem: Constant comparison to peers and feeling like an outcast if they don’t conform to their social group can decrease someone’s self-esteem, leading to a negative self-image and diminished self-worth. 6
  • Issues or unhappiness with appearance: Having friends that obsess over appearances can make people experience feelings of inadequacy, dissatisfaction with their looks, and wanting to change their appearance to fit in and feel valued.

Examples of Peer Pressure

There are a variety of ways in which people can feel pressured to engage in behaviors they may not want to do. Everyone of all ages, races, and genders are susceptible to feeling some type of peer pressure at some point in their lives. It may not always result in grand consequences, but it is felt by all who experience it.

Peer Pressure in Adolescent Men

It was recently found that male adolescents were more susceptible to risky behaviors, including drug use and aggressive behaviors. 7 Males at this age are typically trying to ensure they maintain their gender role stereotypes and often relate these behaviors to masculinity. Males at this age who defy gender norms tend to face more social consequences and are conditioned to then behave and act in a way that is in accordance with the majority.

At this age group, boys are experiencing a great amount of hormonal changes and developing, however not all are developing at the same rate. Once these boys are together, the various stages of their development play a role in driving their choices and interactions. Boys who may be in a different developmental stage become more susceptible to direct, spoken peer pressure, such as taking a drink in a social situation, accepting a cigarette, or engaging in pranks, vandalism, or bullying.

Peer Pressure & Sexual Activity

In another study, high school and college-aged males were more likely to engage in sexual activities to prove their masculinity and their heteronormative identity. Males at this age are more likely to have an unspoken expectation to be engaging in sexual activities as a larger cultural norm that has historically been left unchallenged. It is common for males at this age to feel an internal struggle to find a balance between managing these external pressures to perform in a specific way that is undefined by them and to follow what they feel internally is right for them. 8

This is an unspoken type of peer pressure. While males at this age are typically not publicly pressuring other males to engage in sexual behaviors publicly to prove their masculinity, they often feel a certain responsibility to both belong and be true to themselves. This unspoken peer pressure can leave these young men feeling especially vulnerable and susceptible to engage in sexual behaviors even if they may not necessarily feel ready to do so.

Peer Pressure & Alcohol Consumption

In a recent study, it was found that adult men and women both experience a pressure to drink alcohol. 9 The experience has been described as both aggressive and friendly depending on the social situation. It proves that there is no age discrimination when it comes to peer pressure to consume alcohol, as many may feel social isolation if they do not conform.

This type of peer pressure is direct, spoken or unspoken, and negative. There are only ill feelings that come from being pressured to drink, whether they are emotional or physical. Drinking when you are not ready nor want to can make you physically sick and leave you feeling bad about yourself days after. It can also take days to recover from drinking in a peer pressure situation if you drank heavily to fit in. This can have very clear negative consequences as drinking as a result of pressure can leave you with poorer judgment, unable to see or think clearly, use a vehicle or communicate effectively. In a situation where this occurs with a professional network, it can harm your career and reputation.

Examples of Positive Peer Pressure

Peer pressure isn’t always negative, in fact, positive peer pressure can be a powerful force for personal growth and development, especially when it inspires people to make constructive and healthy decisions.

Here are a few examples of positive peer pressure: 1

  • Friendship: Peers can offer support, a sense of connection, feeling of acceptance, and create long-lasting bonds.
  • Positive examples: By setting a good example, friends can stimulate a person to be more positive and engage in healthy behaviors and habits.
  • Positive socialization: Peers can teach you appropriate social skills, how to communicate better, how to adapt to unfamiliar situations, introduce you to new people, etc.
  • Feedback: Peers can help you make good decisions, provide sound advice, and won’t hesitate to share if they think you’re doing something wrong or risky.
  • Encouragement: Friends can motivate you to participate in sports or extracurricular activities, study harder, etc. They can also reassure and support you when you feel down.
  • Opportunities for new experiences: Peers can pave the way toward new prospects like trying new foods, traveling, or other positive things you haven’t done before.

Why Do People Give in to Negative Peer Pressure?

People give in to negative peer pressure for a variety of reasons. Some individuals, particularly younger folks who have low self-esteem , poor family support, conflicts at home, and other issues may succumb to peer pressure to fit in or feel accepted by their peers. Others worry that if they don’t go along with what everyone else is doing, they’ll be teased. Many people just give in to peer pressure simply out of curiosity. The list of reasons can go on, but the bottom line is that often a person yields to peer pressure due to a strong desire for social validation and fear of rejection. 1

How to Deal With Peer Pressure

There are many ways to deal with the various types of peer pressure you can experience, such as knowing your “why” behind not caving in, taking a break before making a decision, or talking with a safe person.

Here are six tips for dealing with peer pressure:

1. If You’re Unsure, Take a Time Out

You don’t need to immediately jump into something you’re unsure about or that you’d rather not do. Instead, take a step back to check in with yourself and evaluate if you think you are being pressured or coerced by your friends or peers. If the person keeps insisting and waiting around for you to respond, let them know that you’ll need some time to think it through. It’s easier to withstand the pressure when you are able to pause and ground yourself.

2. Listen to Your Gut

Handling peer pressure involves first being aware of how you feel about the situation and environment you’re in when the peer pressure is happening. If you can pay attention to your emotions, you can often find yourself leaving a situation before you may be peer pressured into doing something you may not actually want to do.

3. Be Firm With Your Boundaries & Know Your “Why”

Talking about these feelings and setting boundaries is another way to ensure you can stay comfortable in an environment where you encounter peer pressure. If your boundaries are not respected and the pressure continues, it can be a sign that your environment isn’t a place where you’re respected. This may help you think about the company you keep and start making choices where you’re in a company that respects you, your value system, and your boundaries.

4. Offer an Alternative

Perhaps the person peer pressuring doesn’t know how else to communicate or connect with you. They may think that asking you to smoke or drink with them is a form of bonding. If they pressure you into doing something you aren’t comfortable with or that feels wrong, then suggest an alternative. For example, ask if they want to go bowling or watch a movie instead. This way, you’re able to connect with your friend while engaging in something that won’t harm either of you.

5. Arrange a Code Word With a Parent or Trusted Friend

Have a plan in mind to use if you ever find yourself in a position or situation that feels improper or uncomfortable. You can come up with a “code” word and inform your parents, siblings, or your closest friends so they know that when they receive that text message something is off, and you need their help. Then, they can call you saying there’s a family/friend crisis, and you need to leave. This can prevent you from being caught off guard and safely get you out of a risky situation.

6. If Something Feels Dangerous, Tell a Safe Authority Figure

Identify the people in your life who are accessible and safe to talk to in case you are faced with a dilemma. If something feels dangerous or inappropriate, then it probably is, even if your friends don’t feel the same way. This type of judgment is part of your growth, becoming self-sufficient and learning more about yourself. If a situation seems unsafe, don’t think twice about reaching out to a trustworthy authoritative figure.

How to Get Help for Someone Who Has Experienced Peer Pressure

It’s important to recognize how peer pressure can leave lasting impacts on people’s mental health, regardless of their age, race and gender. Social anxiety is often a common consequence of peer pressure, especially if it has been experienced several times over the course of one’s core developmental age brackets. 10 Recognizing this may be a result of peer pressure is the first step to getting the right kind of help.

Next, it’s important to make sure whoever has been peer pressured understands that their feelings are valid even if they acted against how they truly felt. It can take a lot of time to unlearn some of the behaviors learned throughout their lifetime. Identifying the ways in which someone is struggling is a good way to start healing. It gives us a pathway to get to the core, especially over a long period of feeling pressured. It would be very helpful to find a therapist who can work with anxiety, self-esteem, and self-image issues to help navigate the lasting impact of peer pressure activities.

For Parents Worried About Peer Pressure

If you are concerned about your child being affected by negative peer pressure, there are things you can do to encourage them to make smart choices, including:

Encourage Your Child to Have Friends Over

Encourage your child to bring their friends to the house. This can give you an opportunity to meet them and get a feel for them. This can also strengthen your relationship with your own child because they’ll get a sense that you’re open to fostering their friendships. Plus, having their peers over can enable you to observe their interactions and help you detect who can potentially be a bad influence and who isn’t.

Listen Without Judgment & Keep Lines of Communication Open

Creating a safe and validating space where your child feels comfortable sharing about their experiences can help you stay informed about what’s happening in their life while also building a stronger parent-child relationship. This means giving your child your undivided attention, actively listening, and empathizing while refraining from lecturing or scolding them if you hear something upsetting. Once they sense that you’re in their corner, they’ll be more likely to open up and tell you about any negative peer pressure issues that may come up in the future.

Talk With Your Child About Behavior You’re Concerned About

When you talk with your child about the things that concern you, it is important that you make it about the behavior you don’t like or find unacceptable, as opposed to talking about the people you don’t like. For instance, telling them, “I don’t like your friends-they are no good for you.” This statement can sound too critical, and your child may become defensive. But saying, “I noticed that when you’re with your friends you often get into fights,” sounds less harsh and your child may be more receptive to the message you’re trying to bring across.

Suggest Ways to Say No

As a parent, you have a very influential role in your child’s life—one in which you can steer them in the right direction. Take this opportunity to teach them about being independent thinkers and not rushing into making decisions they aren’t 100% confident about. Show your child that it’s perfectly okay to say no when things don’t feel right and, as difficult as it may be, saying “no” is key to setting healthy boundaries in relationships. Consider role playing different scenarios so they can practice saying no, preparing them to navigate possible pressure situations.

Encourage a Wide Social Network

When your child has multiple healthy friendships and supportive adults in their life, they’re more likely to find support if a peer tries to influence them into doing something they’re not comfortable with.

Additional Resources

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Choosing Therapy strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy .

Poonam Dhull, & Rajesh Beniwal. (2017). Dealing with Peer Pressure. Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, 7. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332318821_Dealing_with_Peer_Pressure

Vollmer, A., Read, R., Trippas, D., & Belpaeme, T. (2018). Children conform, adults resist: A robot group induced peer pressure on normative social conformity. Science Robotics, 3 (21), 1-7.

Freed, R. (2015) Wired Child: Reclaiming Childhood in a Digital Age. CreateSpace Independent Publishing.

Bursztyn, L., Egorov, G,, & Jensen, R. (2018). Cool to be Smart or Smart to be Cool? Understanding Peer Pressure in Education. The Review of Economic Studies, 86 (4), 1487-1526.

Peer pressure : Mentally Healthy Schools. (2020). Mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk . https://mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/risks-and-protective-factors/school-based-risk-factors/peer-pressure/

Sloane Gould. (2021). Body shaming and body image issues. Cavendish Square Publishing.

McCoy, S.S., Dimler, L.M., Samuels, D.V., Natsuaki, M. (2019). Adolescent Susceptibility to Deviant Peer Pressure: Does Gender Matter? Adolescent Research Review, 4, 59–71.

Duckworth, K.D. and Trautner, M.N. (2019). Gender Goals: Defining Masculinity and Navigating Peer Pressure to Engage in Sexual Activity. Gender & Society, 33 (5), 795-817.

Morris, H., Larsen, J., Catterall, E., Moss, A., & Dombrowski, S.U. (2020). Peer pressure and alcohol consumption in adults living in the UK: a systematic qualitative review. BMC Public Health 20, 1014

Kapoor, I., Sharma, S., & Khosla, M. (2020). Social Anxiety Disorder Among Adolescents in Relation to Peer Pressure and Family Environment. Bioscience Biotechnology Research Communications, 13 (2), 923-929.

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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Table 2.6B— Alcohol Use in Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month among Persons Aged 12 or Older, by Detailed Age Category: Percentages, 2002-2019.

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Home / Essay Samples / Sociology / Interpersonal Relationship / Peer Pressure

Peer Pressure Essay Examples

The aspects of peer to peer communication.

Internet and social media play a big and important role in our lives today. We spend most of our free time surfing on the internet. Any information is just a click away we can talk to anyone at any corner of the world at much...

Peer Pressure as a Negative Impact for Group Decision Making

Despite of who you are, we are all part of a group, whether that be a social group, a political group or a sport group. A group is classified as a cluster of individuals (three or more) that work together simultaneously in order to achieve...

Bullying in Schools: an Argument for Zero Tolerance Policy

In this era of globalization, 'Bullying' is a common problem and a hot issue to debate from people from all walks of life. Bullying is a basic thing that students are facing in school and it is difficult to escape. This is because based on...

Correlation Between Peer Influence and Teen Suicide

While many people may think there is not really a significant correlation between peer influence and teen suicide, there is an actual growing rate of younger people ending their lives while actively participating in an educational facility. Due to the large amount of bullying and...

The Problem of Peer Pressure in High School

How would you feel if you were controlled by people or a certain group? Would you do something that you don’t want, like smoking, drugs, and drinking alcohol? Let me inform you that you are damaging yourself as an individual, and making others control you...

Global Problem of Littering

I believe that motivational factors for every person differ from the other person. I agree with this idea. Posting grades in public create positive competition. There is no reward for being the most effective; this event keeps students from doing anything to harm other students...

Littering and Unauthorized Waste Disposal in Sri Lanka 

In the essay “College Pressures”, William Zinsser uses a special introduction by listing the messages that college students sent for their dean. The notes he describes as “authentic voices of a generation that is panicky to succeed”, and explained that these messages exemplify the pressures...

Usury and the Merchant of Venice

Peer influence could be a robust issue of the amendment within the lifetime of most individuals; visible in adolescence and may result in loss of excellent self-esteem and integrity. It is a three-way conception because it incorporates a positive aspect to it; serving individuals to...

Peer Pressure in Adolescent Groups

Peer pressure might be direct or indirect impact of human psychological development particularly teens, may affect a person who gets totally affected to follow their peer friend by changing their mentalities, qualities or activities in the public or private feeling to fit in with those...

The Effect of Peer Behaviour and Influences on Negative Behaviour of Individuals 

The relationship between the behaviour and influences of peers and the behaviour of individuals has been explored in a variety of ways. There are number of factors that have been found to influence the effect of peer behaviour on individual behaviour. These factors include age,...

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