Peer pressure can be seen as the control or influence people have on others especially people of the same age group. Contrary to the common notion that peer pressure can only impact negatively, peer pressure is often positive in some instances. As teenagers grow, they tend to be more attached to their social groupings as compared to their parents especially in terms of making choices and choosing solutions to certain issue. However, the determinant of whether peer pressure is positive or negative is majorly dependent on the end result. If the consequences are undesirable, it is considered negative peer pressure. The reverse is true.
Negative peer pressure occurs often when friends tell an individual to try something that they know is wrong. Peer occupy a significant and important place in the emotional and social development of a child. The influence of peers begins at an early age of a child’s growth and increases significantly into the teenage years. Sociologists consider it healthy and naturally important that children rely on their peers for growth and maturity. Peers can be helpful and beneficial in encouraging and supporting each other to develop new skills and participate in extracurricular activities. This is what is constantly considered positive peer pressure.
However, peers can be a source of negative influence. This is significant in the sense that peers often influence each other to do many vices such as taking drugs and skipping classes. Teenagers are often described as having an impulsive behavior. This means that they are often quick to do things without actually considering the consequences of their action. This is due to the fact that the development of the cognitive areas of the brain and areas responsible for planning and reasoning develop way after the other functional parts of the brain. This explains the reason as to why the teenage age group is more prone to the negative effects of peer pressure.
The teenagers often are at an age prone to manipulation. The mind often has an urge for adventure and trying new things. This coupled with a teenagers impulsive tendency makes the resultant actions often undesirable. As the mind grows, they often seek to have a sense of belonging. It is therefore predictable that they will engage in certain actions in a bid to fit in their social classes. This, means that they will have to do what other members of the group are doing. Drug use is describe as the major negative effects of peer pressure among teenagers. Drug dependence in this case begins as an action of adventure and seeking new pleasure but eventually ends in addiction leading to the permanent negative influence on an individual.
It would be misleading to believe that peer pressure eventually goes as people age and acne ensues. For adults, peer pressure is strong and real only that this group is made up of individuals that are less prone. Adults are able to analyze and predict the consequences of peer pressure. However, it would not be explicitly true to think that adult peers do not influence each other. A few individuals begin abusing drugs at the adult age. This is due to the friends one meets in new work places or living environments. The urge to always belong to a social group often extends to the next age group. Of course, there would be positive peer influence in this age group too. Adult peers often motivate each other based on social and economic achievements. People often take certain actions in a bid to do well just as their peers. This is considered positive peer pressure in this age group. It often has positive effects since it leads to prosperity in an individual’s life since on has mentors.
Works Cited
Rae, Clasen Donna and B. Bradford Brown. "The multidimensionality of peer pressure in adolescence." Journal of Youth and Adolescence 14.1 (2000): 451-468. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF02139520.
