PEER PRESSURE

Has one of your friends ever influenced you to doing something that you didn’t feel like doing? Or even tried doing something just because you saw others do and thought it could be nice to try too? Then that is definitely peer pressure.   Peers are people in your age group.  As you grow older, you'll be faced with some challenging decisions.  Some of them may not have a clear right or wrong answer — like should you play badminton or table tennis or even soccer.  But others will involve serious moral questions, like whether to try cigarettes or lie to your parents.

Making decisions on your own is hard enough, but when other people get involved and try to pressure you in one way or another it can be even harder.  It is something everyone has to deal with — even adults.  Peers influence your life even when you don't realize it.   Just by spending time with you; you learn from them, and they learn from you as well.  It's only human nature to listen to and learn from other people in your age group because it is easier to relate to them.

How Peers Influence your Decisions

Peer pressure is both ways that is; there is positive influence as well as negative influence, it only depends on the kind of peers that we surround ourselves with. 

Positive Influence: 

This is influence that is able to build you in a positive way.  You can learn through others on how to spend your free time in the right way; for example being involved in sports, even volunteer work or other good activities etc.

Negative Influence:

This is influence that can bring harm to you and definitely it has consequences.  For example, a friend in school or neighborhood might convince you to getting into drugs, stealing, etc.

Why Do People Give in to Peer Pressure?

Below are the reasons why a young person will most likely give in to peer pressure;

Ø  Because they want to be liked,

Ø  To “fit in” because they at times feel left out

Ø  They worry that other young people might make fun of them if they don't go along with the group.

Ø  Others go along because they are curious to try something new that others are doing.

Ø  The idea that "everyone else is doing it" can influence some young people to leave their better judgment, or their common sense, behind.

Ø  Some young people are not really sure of what they want; therefore they end up doing what they see others doing.

As a young person; learn to have values, belief in yourself and accept who you are then by doing so you will be able to deal with the challenges that may come your way.  Get to know that not everyone will like you or what you stand for; even the people you consider to be your friends.  There are those who will like to see you fail and will try all possible means to bring you down.