write an expository essay on peer group influence

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Peer Pressure: Facing Challenges Expository Essay

1. introduction.

The word "peer" which is the noun form of the verb "to peer" (look narrowly or searchingly) is mainly used in the sense of an equal. Thus, a "peer" is one who is like us in age, class, race, education, and more. So, "peer pressure" is the influence exerted by a peer group, encouraging individuals to change their attitudes, values, or behaviors in order to conform to group norms. This essay sets out to explore the changing and challenging influences on today's youth within society, whereby the identity of adolescents is disintegrated and transformed into the image of others. Through extensive examination and investigation, this essay acknowledges the facts surrounding peer pressure. It aims not only to identify the results and effects of peer pressure on adolescents but also to prove that there are always alternative solutions to negative influences. By answering the core questions of what are the characteristics of today's society, the problems faced by today's adolescents, and how positive support can produce beneficial results, this essay offers a serious insight on the issue of peer pressure and the influences on identity. The most important point is the significance of independence and individual thinking as well as the effectiveness of resilience and a strong sense of self. It is evident that people follow crowd behavior as it gives them a sense of security and validation, but it is possible to resist negative influences even at the hardest points by using support or available alternatives. This essay addresses how motivation can create opportunities to change and how important it is for a person to decide for themselves, rather than be influenced by others.

1.1 Definition of Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is an influence from members of one's peer group. Peer influence has been found to be a common and powerful source of pressure. It is easy to feel that other people 'are doing it', even if they may not be, and that you are the only one who is not participating. Peer pressure increases the likelihood that an adolescent will start smoking, drink more than they would normally, and take other drugs. It has been shown that adolescents hold overly favorable perceptions of the prevalence of substance use among their peers. The pressure to do what others are doing can be powerful and hard to resist. A Spiral of Influence can be a way to understand peer pressure. It's when a person is convinced to do something they wouldn't usually do and then it leads to other acts until the person is doing something they don't want to do but they still do it to fit in. For example, trying a cigarette due to friends' encouragement can lead to smoking and taking cannabis. Peer conformity in adolescent drug misuse is at its height at early and late adolescence, around the age of 14. There has been a study done to see whether or not the conformation to peers is stronger than other obvious factors in trying to use drugs. The study was an experiment using forty-two students in grades nine and ten. In the experiment, the students were asked to imagine that they were at a party and were offered marijuana by friends. They were then prompted to come up with thirty reasons why they would accept the drug and thirty reasons why they wouldn't. They did this for six trials where the only thing that changed was the social norm in relation to marijuana. The results from this study show that the perceived pressure to use the drug was the most affected in the trials by the social norm. When the trials were completed on the same students a year later, the results were stronger and showed increased risks of use due to acceptance in the social norms of the drug.

1.2 Importance of Addressing Peer Pressure

Introduction Peer pressure is a very common issue that we have nowadays, and it is important to know what it is, the impacts it has, and ways to overcome it. Both boys and girls can be victims of peer pressure. There are many kinds of peer pressure. Some might be to go against their better judgment, such as cutting class or trying illegal drugs or alcohol. Others might be pushing them into activities with unintended results, such as stealing or vandalism. It can be difficult to say no and avoid hurt feelings, and still keep the friends and the respect of the person who is pressuring. It is important for adolescents to learn to deal with peer pressure and make good decisions, especially if the teen is lacking in parental guidance. If a bad decision is made, it can lead to a long and problematic chain of events. Peer pressure can be negative and positive; however, only the negative will be looked at in this essay. 1.2 Importance of Addressing Peer Pressure It is important to address peer pressure because it is a very influential agent in the decisions of adolescents. Adolescents are considered the most highly affected group of people by peer pressure. This is due to the fact that most adolescents are trying to figure out who they are, and in order to do this, they try different personalities and behaviors. One of the ways they figure out what is acceptable in society and what is not is through peer pressure. Adolescents with low self-esteem can also be negatively affected by peer pressure because they may feel that it is necessary to impress others or make friends. This group of people will usually base their decisions on making others happy, so they won't get left out. This will, of course, lead to following the ideas of someone else and not their own. The decisions that adolescents make because of peer pressure will have a long-lasting effect. This is because there are almost no decisions that do not affect the future in some way. It could affect the person financially, their health, their social image, and even their freedom. For example, a survey done by the University of Michigan Institute of Social Research surveyed 917 U.S. high school seniors, and a 15-year follow-up of their lives shows that half of the first-year university and community college dropouts admit that they frequently drank alcohol during high school. And that frequent binge drinkers are more likely to drop out. This shows that those who drank alcohol did not think of the consequences of their actions and gave in to peer pressure, and their studies have been affected.

1.3 Purpose of the Essay

This essay is written with the objective of determining the extent to which peer pressure impacts on the ability of adolescents to make good judgments. Whether of a positive or negative nature, peers increase the likelihood that one will engage in an activity, are more successful in attaining it, and it will be more satisfying. The essay will be discussing the negative effect of peer pressure on teenagers and will argue that the good judgment of teenagers is undermined by peer pressure because they do not have the ability to balance short-term benefits and long-term consequences. This is done on behalf of the Australian parents, stating that peer pressure has come to be the predominant influence on their teenagers and it exploits the natural vulnerabilities and need for acceptance, placing their children in detrimental situations. The essay used both primary and secondary data, with a focus on interviews and social experiments. A group interview was with five Australian mothers, where a series of questions were asked to gain insight into their opinion of the importance of good judgment in regards to the safety of their teenagers and the effect of peer pressure on their ability to do so. This was to provide a modern perspective of how detrimental peer pressure has become to the point where the majority of Australian teenagers are in high-risk situations due to the influence of their peers. The essay also experimented with the process and results of a social experiment using a year nine class to compare rates of success and quality of given judgment between privately done and group work given tasks. The results of this experiment determined that success and judgment quality were lower for the group work task, and it has been established that the cause is, in fact, peer pressure.

2. Types of Peer Pressure

Positive Peer Pressure Positive peer pressure is the attitude of a person who is influenced by the ideas and decisions of the group. It is always positive. For instance, your child is involved in positive peer pressure if his friends try to persuade him to attend school. "Come on, everyone's doing it!" is a phrase that is commonly associated with peer pressure. Whether said in jest or in seriousness, this line is all too familiar to most Americans. Positive peer pressure is based upon the idea of a group of peers who decide to do something that will have an overall positive effect. In research conducted by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, pupils at some schools reported that among their peers it was "uncool to be smart." This shows that peer pressure does not only have positive effects. In some cases, rather than supporting peers to study and do well in school, there is pressure to take part in activities such as skipping class, drinking, or using drugs which can lead to disastrous results. Negative Peer Pressure Negative peer pressure is pressure to do something that is against personal values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Peers who experience this pressure are given an ultimatum to either change their values or be excluded from the group. An example of this would be a teenager who just joined a new school and soon after was pressured by his classmates to start smoking. When he refused to go against his father's advice, the teenagers said that he could no longer be seen with them in public.

2.1 Positive Peer Pressure

Positive peer pressure can be defined as a situation where peers put pressure on each other, promoting the attitudes and behaviors that lead to personal and social development. It is an essential force in character development and social well-being. Positive peer pressure occurs when someone's peers try to influence behavior for the greater good, like getting good grades, taking a class, or helping your friend make the right choices. An example of positive peer pressure can be a person being pushed into doing something that will help them in the long run, prepare them for life, or better themselves. Sometimes a person does not know what is in their own best interest. An athlete might work harder in their sport if their friends are all trying to excel in the same sport, not because they are being compared to their friends, but because they are using their friends' drive to be the best that they can be. Often, positive and negative peer pressure can cross lines and have opposite results. Positive peer pressure to join a certain crowd that negatively pressures a person can be labeled as fitting in, but the crowd and the person may not know that what is happening is negative peer pressure. This can be seen in some cultural and international situations. But in its own category, positive peer pressure is a very influential teaching tactic in teens and youths. A survey conducted on 1,200 adults revealed that 37 percent of them feel they make better decisions when they are with their peers. This reflects the effects of positive and negative peer pressure. The people who admitted to making better decisions had most likely chosen to make friends and associate with people who have the same values and goals as themselves. These people have effectively surrounded themselves with positive peer pressure. The other 63 percent who said that it does not matter probably fell victim to negative peer pressure or just do not realize the effects that peers have on their decisions.

2.2 Negative Peer Pressure

There are two types of negative peer pressure. The first is when a person is forced to do something that they do not want to do, and the second is when a person is convinced into doing something that they know is wrong. The effect of the first type of negative peer pressure is similar to the effect of bullying. It can make a person feel isolated and resentful. They may begin to avoid certain company to get out of the situation, and it can affect their self-esteem. Being forced to do something can be anything from a person trying to get another person to take drugs or trying to get them to have a sexual relationship. It all depends on the level of pressure and the person's own belief of what is wrong and right. If somebody does something that they do not want to do, they may feel guilty, and the issue of guilt can affect them for a very long time. This can prevent them from making their own decisions in life and stick to following someone else so they can be told what to do. This is a very serious effect, and it can affect a person for the rest of their life. Another serious effect is that it can lead to a crime. This is very rare but may happen in a situation if the level of pressure is very severe and the person can no longer cope with it. An example of this is a case in which a student was pressured into bringing drugs to school, and as a result, he was expelled. The second type of negative peer pressure is very serious when a person is convinced into doing something that they know is wrong. An example of this might be a person convincing their friend to steal some alcohol from a shop. The person would know that this is wrong, but because of the convincing from their peers, they could be drawn into the situation and might do it. This is very damaging because it blurs the person's own belief of what is wrong and right, and the person may end up regretting it, but it may be too late. This type of peer pressure poses critical effects for the person, and it can affect their relationships with their friends and family. It can make them become more distant from family members, and they may feel that it is hard to clinch a good relationship with them. The person may feel alienated from certain company, and if the peer pressure came from them, it might be a good move, but if the pressure was still with them and from others, it affects their self-esteem and emotional feelings. Again, the issue of guilt is very serious, and it could cause the person to have emotional problems. A person who has been convinced into doing something that they know is wrong will eventually think about the situation and regret it. This may cause emotional stress and could even affect the person's sleep.

2.3 Indirect Peer Pressure

There are many types of peer pressures that the writer had talked about. In every school, there are always different types of students with different IQ levels. The students who have low self-esteem are always the ones who tend to follow what their friends say to them. In this case, their friends are actually slowly pressuring them into doing the negative things. This is actually a negative indirect peer pressure. An example would be smoking. The students who smoke are usually thought of as being cool and tough. So, the students who do not smoke but are friends with the ones who smoke would somehow feel curious and want to experience the fun and coolness that the other students are having. So when the students are offered a smoke, they would start to have a feeling of wanting it, but they do not want to disappoint their parents and teachers. At this point in time, these students are confused about what to choose. The choices that they make will affect their whole life. If they choose to not smoke, they would have a fear of being labeled as a sissy. So in the end, they would try to find reasons to avoid their friends. Normally, the students would feel very uncomfortable and start looking for new friends. In fact, the best way to avoid getting into negative peer pressure is by getting busy with a positive role. By doing this, there would not be any time to entertain the asking from other friends. Another type of negative peer pressure involves a planned attempt to make someone do something wrong. This is often initiated by a group of friends who encourage things like shoplifting, damaging public property, or cheating in an exam. Usually, the one being pressured knows it is wrong and feels the internal conflict. But due to the fear of alienation and ridicule, he/she may still give in and do it. After it is done, the feeling of guilt will face the person and it may affect the friendship and that person's self-image.

3. Effects of Peer Pressure

Adolescents may at times experience the internalization of aggressive behaviors intended to cause harm to others. This aggressive behavior is a result of the pressure from the peers to conform to their crowd. Adolescents who change their crowd of friends several times are more hostile than those who remain in the same crowd. A study by Neil Montgomery and his associates compared the difference in aggressive behavior between adolescents who changed their crowd of friends and those who remained in the same crowd. The result of this study showed that a group of people in a crowd will engage in collective decision making to achieve a mutual decision on whether they will be involved in any group action. Montgomery's study suggested that adolescents who were no longer with the same crowd usually due to his or her dissatisfaction with the decision making and attempt to change the group's decision. This in turn led to the practice of more direct or reflective hostile behavior as the adolescent and the crowd from before would engage in hostile acts to persuade the other person to retreat from the decision. This can ultimately lead to a serious act of violence in an attempt to cause the other person to change his decision, but more often than not the hostility will lead to more disputes and acts of violence between the parties. An immediate reinforcement for an aggressive act is having the person or people who initiated the act. This occurred with a girl who was enrolled into a psychiatric ward for two weeks. While there she had engaged in various acts of delinquency with a group to gain acceptance. A study has shown that delinquents perceived aggression to achieve higher social status and delinquents were more inclined in engaging in aggressive behavior than non-delinquents. This aggression can be very detrimental as a teenager's agar who often forms the false impression of what to take in to obtain certain rewards, would be at risk of engaging in aggressive behavior to imitate a delinquent in hope of gaining street credibility and higher social status. A lesser known fact about aggression is its aim to disrupt another's pursuit of a goal resulting in the frustrated person taking it out on others in alternative situations and ultimately is at the root cause of people quitting things. Anyways, the frequency of aggression may lead to the stagnation of a person's social and cognitive development if the person is faced with continuous hostile acts or he is continually pushed to behave in an aggressive way to conform to a new group.

3.1 Psychological Impact

Peer pressure is the phenomenon where we tend to get influenced by the lifestyles and the ways of thinking of our peers. Peer pressure can prove beneficial but it is most often observed to have negative effects. The thought, behaviour, and style of youngsters are more likely to get influenced by the peer pressure. Peer pressure can lead to a loss of individuality. A person may have to undergo various changes, hence proving detrimental to his self-esteem. Young individuals tend to follow the lifestyles of their peers. If the peer group smokes, the adolescent is more likely to smoke. If the peer group drinks, the adolescent is more likely to drink. Adolescents may, at times, give up their hobbies and extracurricular activities, in order to make the time to fit in with their peers. This can be destructive as it can lead to a loss in the overall education and experiences. A famous quote from Einstein says, "Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." Adolescents who undergo a lot of changes due to the influence of peers are left grappling in the dark for some common sense. They often do not know right from wrong due to lack of experiences. If the peer group has a particular agenda it is very likely that an individual may go along with the others without an inkling of what the activity is about. This can get the person into a lot of trouble. Troubles with the law and school are not uncommon. Behavioural changes can lead to alienation from those who were not the part of the peer pressure. A change in the dressing and the overall persona of an individual is often tied in with the trend in the peer group. This is nothing new as this was also studied in a similar phenomenon called "crowd behaviour". Changes in an individual are more likely to make a negative impact, as the changed individual is not the same and others may not accept this. This can lead to a lack of friends and an increase in bad influences, as the individual attempts to find a new group more accepting of his changes. This is an ever spinning wheel as each new group will have its own influences and the individual may never free himself from the trappings of peer pressure. Changes are an inevitable part of our life. But the changes forced upon us by the influence of others are not a positive change. Forced changes will only bring about regrets. The individual in later life will question himself as to why he did not heed the advice of others and gave in to the influences. This will only lead to feelings of sorrow and loss of self-esteem. In the worst case scenario the individual may harm himself due to the feelings of regret. In order to avoid all these problems, it is essential to make the right decisions in life. Life is full of choices and the right decision at right time can save a person from disaster. A strong personality with a sense of individuality is a man who makes his decisions based on his own judgements and does not waver under the influence of others. This is the exact opposite of peer pressure. Hence it is clear that peer pressure has negative outcomes and it is best avoided.

3.2 Behavioral Changes

Behavioral changes can also result as a reaction to changes in one's peer group. Friends often exert a certain level of influence. In adolescence, this can be a major problem. For the most part, these changes are for the better. Adolescents are easily influenced, so having an opportunity to be part of a group that is a positive influence can result in pro-social behavior and can also help shape who that person is in the future. At the same time, adolescence is a time of experimentation and a lot of teens will go astray and start hanging out with a different peer group. This may be due to the teen feeling alienated from their regular group, and the result could be a further deepening into anti-social behavior. This is where a negative decline in behavior can be seen. If the youth is already delinquent, they will feel right at home with a deviant peer group, and the influence could intensify his problem behavior and lead to chronic delinquency. If the youth is not a delinquent, they may still pick up a few minor problem behaviors such as disrespect for parental authority, but they will soon feel guilty and the outcome may be cessation of association with that group and personality realignment. High levels of peer influence can pull an adolescent in either direction, but as A.J Conger in his article on Adolescent Delinquency and the Symbolic Interactionist Perspective: Method, Theory, and Translation said, "the weight of delinquent involvement is around two times stronger than the influence to a non-delinquent group." This statement perpetrates that negative peer pressure is indeed very influential in the delinquent behavior of youths.

3.3 Academic Performance

Academic performance is one of the crucial places where the effects of peer pressure can be observed. Some children may want to improve their grades and decide to associate with studious children. Other children may skip school and avoid studying out of fear of failure. This behavior is often caused through pressure from their peers in an act to be accepted among them. On the flip side, some children increase their academic performance. This can be caused by both positive and negative forms of peer pressure. The child may feel pressured to maintain good grades so that they can continue to receive praise and acceptance from their peers, or they may end up associating with a different group of children in an effort to bring about a positive change in their life. This change can be very difficult as the child is essentially moving from one subculture to another, a feat that is often met with great resistance. Another question about peer pressure and involvement with deviant subcultures is at what point does someone stop being an "outsider" and become an "insider". A child who was never involved with any sort of deviance can make the decision to try and improve his grades, yet still feel the labeling effects of past associations. As he tries to associate with children in the higher achieving subculture, he will be met with resistance from both sides. The children in his previous subculture will try to pull him back with taunts of "selling out" or not being "cool" anymore, while the "good" children will be skeptical of his intentions and may not accept him due to his past behavior. This child is somewhere in between the two groups and it is usually the pressure from the higher achieving group that will help him to stay on the right path. This shows that peer pressure can affect all types of children and the effect of this pressure from either side will make the difference in which direction he is pulled.

4. Strategies for Dealing with Peer Pressure

Dealing with peer pressure can be tough. It takes a strong person to stand up to peer pressure, whether that means simply saying "no" or actively changing the subject to something more positive. The tips below can help you deal with peer pressure: they are also good skills to have in your tool kit for making decisions and choices. 4.1 Building Self-Confidence One of the main reasons people bow to peer pressure is because they do not have enough confidence in themselves. They feel that they will not be accepted unless they go along with the crowd. Building self-confidence takes time. There are five steps to build self-confidence. These are: 1. Make a list of strengths: Think of all the things you do well and make a list. Ask others to add to this list. 2. Set a goal: The goal should be realistic and something that will make you feel good about yourself. 3. Do not put yourself down: If you catch yourself criticizing yourself or your achievements then stop and think about how you can phrase this in a positive way. 4. Get involved: Involve yourself in a range of activities; this will open the door to achieving new things and will lead to you becoming a more confident person. 5. Prepare: Always be prepared to try new things and be willing to take risks. You cannot predict failure and you do not have to succeed at everything you try. The point is to just give it a go.

4.1 Building Self-Confidence

The best way to respond effectively to peer pressure is to bolster self-confidence. If you like and feel good about who you are, you’ll be better equipped to handle the pressures of adolescence and the decisions you have to make. Building self-confidence takes time. Here are some steps that can help you. Positive Self-Talk: We all have a running dialogue in our heads; it’s how we think about ourselves. Much of the time this self-talk is negative and self-undermining. It’s a habit you’ve picked up over the years and it can take a long time to retrain how you talk to yourself. To change, you have to make a conscious effort to control what you say to yourself and to dispute negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. Here is an example: Step 1: Identify negative thoughts. "I’m a loser. I never do anything right. No one likes me." Step 2: Dispute the negative thoughts. "Wait a minute, that’s not true. I do lots of stuff right like that project for history class. People like being around me." Step 3: Replace the negative with a positive. "I’m a good person. I have a lot to offer." Replace Jargon with Info: An analogy to this process is removing a computer virus from your hard drive. The negative thoughts are the virus; you must first identify the virus, find it in your system, and then delete the virus. After that, you need to replace the infected file with a clean backup file. That’s what disputing and replacing negative thoughts are. Positive self-talk can also affect how you feel about yourself overall, even if you’re not focusing and disputing any particular negative thoughts. So as time goes on and you develop the habit of self-control, you will naturally hold a more positive image of yourself. This will result in you leading a less stressful life and coping better with the ups and downs of adolescence.

4.2 Assertiveness Training

An assertive response to any form of peer influence is an effective strategy. This response can vary depending on the severity and type of influence, but there are some general skills that can be learned. According to research, the most effective of these is an assertive refusal. The following are explanations and examples of refusal skills that can be employed in varying situations. An assertive refusal is standing up for oneself and not giving in. The most confrontational of these is the broken record, which involves repeating the same assertive statement over and over again. This technique can be used when persistence is the primary source of pressure. An example in a school situation is persistently being offered a cigarette. The refuser can simply say no and keep repeating it. Alternatively, one could use a cold shoulder by ignoring the offer and changing the subject. This technique is non-confrontational, but the refusal is clear. A more direct method is giving a clear reason and excuse. This is firm but non-hostile, and the reasoning makes the refusal less ambiguous. Using the previous example, one could say, "No, I don't smoke. It's stupid because it's bad for your health and costs too much money. I'm saving my cash for some skates." Using humor can also have a defusing effect by making the refuser and influencer laugh about the situation, a lighthearted refusal. This method requires quick wit and works in the example where the influencer may also have some reservations about the behavior. Finally, the guilt trip involves making the influencer feel guilty about pressuring by stating how disappointed others would be about them giving in. An example could be a son saying, "How could I take up a music career when I've seen you struggle to pay the bills? I want to be a baker, Dad." to his father trying to pressure him into law studies. Although guilt is not always a positive influence, the guilt trip refusal still respects the influencer's authority and does not attack their character.

4.3 Seeking Support from Adults or Mentors

Some young people have a trusted adult they can confide in. This person can be a teacher, coach, youth leader, religious leader, or relative. This adult can give you good advice on how to handle many different situations and is often willing to talk to other parents or adults to get solutions when needed. This can be a helpful resource when the youth wants to make the right choices, especially if the adult is positive and supportive. Another good method is to talk to a counselor or to call a help-line. Many areas now have free telephone lines which are staffed by trained people who will listen and give information. They don't keep records of who has called, so it is anonymous and confidential. A professional counselor is always a good listener, has your best interests in mind, and can give great guidance to help you make the best decisions for yourself. The last method is probably the easiest of all. Whenever you are unsure of what to do, it is always best to consult with a parent. After all, they do know you best and want what is best for you. Stick to the facts and just explain the situation or offer some alternatives to see what they think. When you involve parents in your decision-making process, the chance that you will get support from them is high.

4.4 Setting Boundaries and Saying No

It's often difficult to anticipate a situation where someone will pressure you to do something you don't want to do. But having a few strategies in mind can make it easier to say no when the time comes. One of the best ways to avoid or get out of a pressure situation is to have good excuses or reasons. Knowing in advance what you will or won't do makes those reasons more concrete. For example, if you feel uncomfortable about something someone is asking you to do, you can tell that person, "I don't feel like this is a good idea." If your friends are persistent, repeat your statement or your answer "no" several times. In this way, you'll be getting your point across without getting angry. Rehearse other ways of saying no. This may help you next time you're in a pressure situation. If you've made a clear decision about what you don't want to do, it may help to just be direct and to the point. Another strategy is to avoid the situation before it arises. If you know you've got a test the next time or plans with your family, you can use that as an explanation. For example, "I can't do that because my mom will be really mad if I don't do what she asked me to do." If all else fails, and you feel unsafe, use your exit plan and remove yourself from the situation. It's very important to be assertive when saying no. If you say no and people don't respect your decision, they're not respecting you. People who respect you for who you are will respect your decisions. Saying no is a skill and like any skill, it gets better with practice. Remember, it's your right to decide what you will and won't do. Don't do something that goes against your values or what's best for you.

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The Impact of Peer Pressure on Students’ Academic Performance

Categories: Academic Performance Peer Pressure

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Published: Apr 29, 2022

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Peer Pressure: Positive and Negative Effects Essay

Introduction, positive effects of peer pressure in my life, negative effects of peer pressure in my life, works cited.

Peer pressure is an individual or a group’s influence on others for them to act differently, change their beliefs, attitudes, or traits to be able to suit or conform to a specified norm. Initially, an individual may not support a specified norm or action but may end up conforming to the same one after external influence from the peer group or other individuals. Solomon Asch, who conducted Asch conformity experiments, asserts that conformity to normative influence is aimed at gaining social approval or reward; it avoids social punishment or disapproval from influencing peers or groups. In my lifetime, there have been many cases when I was influenced by peer pressure, both positively and negatively (Savage 67).

Although peer pressure is usually attributed to negative behaviors and attitudes, in reality, it has both negative and positive effects on an individual. The effects of peer pressure depend on the nature of the influencing group. A bad group may influence an individual in a wrong way, while a good group may instill in a person positive values. Examples of negative peer influence include making wrong decisions, loss of identity, and development of bad habits, while positive peer influence includes exposure to the world, adopting positive habits, and overcoming bad habits. However, the negative effects of peer pressure are more apparent than its benefits (Raum 72).

There are several instances when peer pressure has been instrumental in shaping my attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs positively. Group work has been influential in ensuring my success in academics. When I was in high school, I happened to be assigned to a discussion group that was comprised of people who valued the process of studying a lot. Initially, I was not keen on my studies and I did not want to participate in academic activities which I considered irrelevant, but since members of my group valued education highly, in the end, I had to adapt their studying spirit. The influence of the group played a key role in my academic success. Some of the positive values that the group instilled in me are honesty in academics, hard work in my fields of study, and good management of time. Further, the group influenced my social life by helping me to be a responsible and disciplined individual (Savage 71).

Being an ardent Christian, I considered taking alcohol as immoral, sinful, and unethical. However, the influence of peer pressure made me consume alcohol. One summer, my college friend invited me to a party that had a lot of nice meals and drinks, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic. During that party, my friends were taking alcohol and I was the only person who did not take alcoholic drinks. At first, I rejected their attempt to lure me into taking alcohol but after some time, I went against my principles and tasted some alcohol. I took alcohol to have my friends’ social approval. Although I never tried taking alcohol after that case, my experience proves that peer pressure is a powerful tool that, can influence one to get involved in negative behaviors (Raum 88).

In conclusion, it must be highlighted that Solomon Asch was right when he stated that peer pressure is a powerful tool that can influence an individual to do what he or she did not anticipate. Peer pressure may influence a person positively or negatively. One conforms to the norms of a group to gain social reward or avoid group punishment.

Raum, Elizabeth. Peer Pressure . Chicago: Heinemann Library, 2008. Print.

Savage, Lorraine. Peer Pressure . Detroit, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Print.

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