Peer Pressure : Facing challenges

SPOKEN & UNSPOKEN PEER PRESSURE 

Peer pressure occurs when a peer or a group of peers influence or pressure a person to think or act in a certain way. The goal of peer pressure is to convert a person's view or perception in order to make them to participate in a specific act. The goal of peer pressure, sometimes known as peer influence, is to make a person succumb to the whims and beliefs of others in their social group, causing that person to act in a way they normally wouldn't. 

SPOKEN PEER PRESSURE 

Spoken peer pressure is when a teenager asks, suggests, persuades, or otherwise induces another to engage in a certain behavior. If this is done in a one-on-one environment, the recipient of the influence has a better chance of sticking to their core values ​​and beliefs. However, if verbal influence occurs in a group, the negative peer pressure to go along with the group is enormous.

UNSPOKEN PEER PRESSURE

With unspoken peer pressure, a teenager is exposed to the actions of one or more peers and is left to decide whether they want to follow. This could take the form of fashion choices, personal interactions, or "associations" of behavioral types (clubs, cliques, teams, etc.). Many young teens lack the mental maturity to control impulses and make wise long-term decisions. Because of this, many teenagers are more susceptible to the negative influence of peer pressure from older or more popular friends.

NOTICABLE CHANGES IN BEHAVIOUR OF A PERSON WHILE EXPERIENCING PEER PRESSURE:

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

Things people may be peer pressured into doing include:

1. Acting aggressively (common among men)
2. Bullying others
3. Doing drugs
4. Dressing a certain way
5. Drinking alcohol
6. Engaging in vandalism or other criminal activities
7. Physically fighting
8. Only socializing with a certain group

PARENTAL INFLUENCE V/S PEER PRESSURE

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. Peer pressure to take potentially harmful risks can be balanced by parents ensuring that they set appropriate boundaries, provide support, and help to avoid risks. A few examples:

1. Pick up your child from events where alcohol or drugs may have been consumed.
2. Provide balanced, truthful information on issues such as alcohol and drug use.
3. Stay involved in your child's life. Believe it or not, you are one of their biggest influences and they listen when you talk.
4. 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?