Hello readers,
In your young days, especially while learning in a school or college, you may have discovered a new word ‘peer pressure’. Sadly, many of us have learned about this new word after being affected by it and still now, some of us don't even realize the meaning of it or if it is happening to ourselves. We often see Peer pressure as a term that is often thrown around and being talked about, especially among young people. But what exactly is it and how does it affect us? In today’s post, we will be talking about this topic together while exploring both its negative and positive aspects and whether it is truly necessary in our culture and lives.
What is Peer Pressure?
In simple words, Peer pressure is the influence that peers or people of similar age or social groups can have on each other. When we go to school or college or office or get connected with any type of social group, we often get pressured by our social Circle to do something that we don't actually want to do. Basically, It is the feeling that you have to do something because your friends are doing it or because you want to fit in, no matter whether or not you like it.
Negativity of Peer Pressure
First of all, let us take a look at the negative sides of peer pressure because I personally believe it brings way more harm to our lives than doing any actual good. So here I will try to express the negative sides of peer pressure that can be generally seen in social circles.
- Conformity
It can be seen that sometimes, peer pressure can lead us to do certain things we would not normally do just for the sake of fitting in with a group. One good example of this event would be start smoking. If you happen to be a smoker, just remember when you first started smoking. For most cases, the answer will be when you were in school or college and your friends started to do it, you also started with them just so that you don't feel left out.
- Risk-taking behaviors
It is often observed that peer pressure pushes young individuals to engage in risky behaviors like rush driving bikes or cars, substance abuse or taking drugs or skipping classes in school or college. When we are still young and yet to develop judgment and understand the good and bad effects of every activity we do, we are exposed to inheriting certain bad behaviors just to be cool in front of our friends or colleagues, but later we realize that we have only brought pain and suffering to ourselves just to get attention from our so-called friends.
- Low self-esteem
Sometimes it can be seen that creating constant pressure upon someone to comply or obey to certain standards can lower their self-esteem. This practice in many cases can lead to feelings of inadequacy and mental depression in that individual. For a real-life example, just imagine a scenario where a group of friends is pressuring one of their group members to skip class. Even though the person knows it is wrong or interested in joining that particular class, they might give in or obey his friends just to avoid feeling left out.
Positivity of Peer Pressure
Not all peer pressures are bad or harmful, although I personally believe most of them are in today's real life. But here are some positive effects of peer pressure on our lives as stated below.
- Motivation
Peer pressure can also be positive sometimes if it encourages individuals to strive for success or work harder to reach their goals. I remember one such incident in my college days where I used to get scared doing Maths and most of the time ignore learning the subject, but before the exam, some of my friends created a study group and forcefully took me in and gladly, the end part went well and we all passed the subject with decent numbers.
- Support system
On the positive side, friends can also provide a supportive environment by motivating each other to make healthy choices and pursue their passions. It can be joining sports or studying together, supporting a needy friend financially etc. Once there was an incident where one of my class friends got diagnosed with a severe disease and all the students of my school initiated a charity, donated willingly and also encouraged others to donate as well to help that friend.
- Building confidence
Positive peer pressure can also boost confidence in someone by standing beside him as a group and encouraging his personal growth or a certain goal. For example, let us consider an imaginary situation where a group of friends encourages one of their members to join a sports team or take an educational course. These types of positive influences can lead to increased physical activity, new friendships and of course, improved self-esteem.
Is Peer Pressure Necessary?
Peer pressure is a natural part of our daily life and of our society. But however, it is not necessarily essential. It is very important for us to be able to differentiate between positive and negative influences and to make decisions based on what is truly best for oneself.
- Critical thinking: Learning to think logically and critically about peer influence will help individuals make wise and informed choices rather than blindly following the group.
- Assertiveness: Developing assertive skills always empowers individuals to stand up for themselves and resist if there is any negative peer pressure trying to control them.
- Seeking support: choose your friends wisely. Surrounding yourself with good-hearted friends who encourage your personal growth and support individuality can neutralize the negative effects of peer pressure.
In conclusion, I would like to say that peer pressure can have both negative and positive impacts on our lives and society. While it is not entirely avoidable, but understanding its influence and learning to navigate it and decide which ones we should follow and which ones we should avoid can empower us as individuals to make choices that align with our values and goals. Let no one control your thoughts and on the other side, do not try to control others too. Together we can create a better society by just being helpful and wise with our peers and I strongly believe we can achieve it together by showing honor and love to each other.