Peer Pressure

Have you ever been influenced to behave a certain way or do something out of character in order to fit in with your friends? If so, you know how it feels to be peer pressured. Peer pressure is something that can happen to anyone, however, it’s most common in young adults or teenagers. Why? In the teenage years, a teenager’s brain is still developing. A part of the brain- the frontal lobe, which is responsible for decision making, personality, and reasoning is still developing, that’s why young adults can be easily influenced. Teenagers at schools are the ones who experience it the most. A student at GZAAT agrees, saying: “In my opinion it happens the most at my age”. Teenage years are the years of finding your identity and what role you play in society. Choosing a very influential peer group might lead a teenager to completely change their behavior, beliefs, interests. Teens often cave into peer pressure because they want to be liked, to fit in, or to be respected by their peers.

Peer pressure can come in many forms. Most of the time, teenagers feel the need to follow along with everything their friends do, however sometimes they become the main target of their friend groups, who are pressured to act a certain way. First type of peer pressure is direct, when a person directly tells their peer to do something, or act in a certain way and the peer does it in order to not seem “uncool”. Another type is indirect or unspoken, when a peer feels the need to act in the same way as their friend group to fit it. The power of a look or gesture can be sufficient to pressure someone into doing what makes them uncomfortable.

Peer pressure can either be negative or positive, which depends on the dynamic of the friend group. For example, if peers encourage and inspire each other to study harder or do community service, such as charity work, that is considered positive peer influence. Peer pressure can be good if it pushes a person out of their comfort zone and gives them an opportunity to discover new things. However some argue that positive peer pressure doesn’t exist, because at the end it’s still pressuring someone into doing something they wouldn’t normally do, just for the sake of fitting it. For example, GZAAT students were asked: “Which one do you think is more common: negative or positive peer pressure?” and some the responses were: “Negative. I just don’t think you can call any kind of peer pressure positive.” and another student said: “I think negative because the so-called "pressurers" use people for their own benefit and oftentimes it turns out being bad for the other person.” A student shared their own experience with us and said: “I think the most common example of negative peer pressure is connected to physical aspects of a person. For example losing weight, constantly being bullied because of the looks, etc. Sometimes the cases are about money and wealth of a person. If they do not have much money to afford expensive things, their peers assault them. I have experienced both, positive and negative peer pressure. An example of positive pressure was when my friends asked me to wear something that will make me feel confident about my body. They did not make me do it, but said many nice things to me. I didn’t wear it eventually, but they stood next to me and understood my situation.”

What is negative peer pressure? For example, if the friend group persuades each other to do drugs, drink alcohol or engage in illegal activities. Let's take a look at some of the statistics of peer pressure: 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. 70% of teens also said that they only started smoking because of peer pressure. In a survey done by Parent Further on Peer Pressure, it stated: Half of the surveyed teens said that they would pick on someone only after a friend picked on that person and only 10% of the surveyed teenagers had refused when they were faced with peer pressure. In the GZAAT survey, all 100% of the students said they think peer pressure represents a big problem in schools. Let's hear a GZAAT student’s opinion about negative peer pressure: “I think negative peer pressure is common because teens are prone to breaking rules and experiencing new stuff. They also like to engage in risky behaviors and just to seem cool in other children’s eyes. Kids are forced to do certain things in order to fit in with people their age. They think if they don't act like their peers they will get bullied and not accepted. Also they might have some troubles at home or elsewhere and it might be a way of coping with all their problems.”

How can we deal with peer pressure? First of all, by learning how to say “no”, in a calm and convincing way, so that peers don’t go out of their way to pressure you into doing something. Also, by getting out of the situation when it begins to turn uncomfortable. Another way is by choosing a friend group carefully, for example- a non-dominant or influential friend group, which won’t force their opinions on you and won’t force you to do certain things. And finally, by appreciating your own individuality, unique thoughts, opinions and beliefs and being confident in yourself.

Edited By Natalia Rakviashvili