Peer Pressure Definition

It’s a feeling that one must do the same things as other people of one’s age and social group in order to be liked or respected by them.

Types Of Peer Pressure

Spoken Peer Pressure.

Unspoken Peer Pressure.

Direct Peer Pressure.

Indirect Peer Pressure.

Negative Peer Pressure.

Positive Peer Pressure.

Causes Of Peer Pressure

Teens succumb to peer pressure include things like:

-A desire to ‘fit in.

-To avoid rejection and gain social acceptance.

-Hormonal inconsistencies.

-Please address personal/social confusion and/or anxiety.

-A lack of structure at home.

Signs Of Peer Pressure

Avoiding school or other social situations.

Being very image conscious.

Changes in behavior.

Expressing feeling like they don’t fit in.

Low moods, including anxiety and depression.

Making social comparisons.

Trouble sleeping.

Trying out new hair or clothing styles.

Ways To Say No To Peer Pressure

-Know what’s right.

-Trust your own feelings about what’s right and wrong.

-Have a friend who will stand with you.

-It can really help to have at least one other peer who is willing to say “No,” too.

-Help a friend.

-Walk away.

-Get advice from an adult.

We are not obliged to fulfill someone’s request. We can’t get rid of peer pressure completely, but we can eliminate most of it by changing the way we our doing things.

This was written by our contributing writer, Duet Mlotshwa.