You are the average of the five people you spend most of the time with. Peers and friends play a vital role in an adolescent’s self-discovery journey. Adolescence is an exciting phase of growth and exploration that also has its baggage- Peer pressure. Their peers influence young individuals in their characters and decision-making, whether consciously or unconsciously. In this blog post, we will define the different ways in which peer pressure influences the decision-making and character of an adolescent, as well as the potential consequences and ways of handling its effects.
What is Peer pressure?
Peer pressure is the influence exerted on an individual by peers and friends to conform to their standards, behaviors, and attitudes. It mirrors the habits and character of peers because of association. It can be positive or negative. Positive peer pressure can cause a motivation to strive for excellence and make positive, responsible decisions, while negative peer pressure will give birth to a toxic behavior or result in the life of an individual.
The Impact of Peer Pressure on Decision-Making
Adolescence is a time of exuberant exploration, youthful exploration that can result from a drive for immediate rewards or pleasure, unaware of the risks involved. The adolescence age is a stage where the individual has not fully gained control over their impulses or reactions and still finds it hard to create balance in their values. This state makes the adolescence more vulnerable to pressure from their peers, as they yearn for validation and acceptance from their peers. This will result in conforming and aligning to decisions that negate their true value. Peer pressure can impact decision-making in various ways:
Conforming to peer group values: Young people feel mandated to conform to the values and expectations of their peers to be validated by them or to fit in. This can result in decision-making based on the validation of peer groups instead of personal values and beliefs.
Influence on risk perception: Peer pressure can distort an individual’s risk perception. A person may disregard the potential risk and be more open to taking more risks due to being surrounded by peer groups engaging in risky behaviors.
Fear of Rejection: The fear of being rejected or odd among one’s peer group can lead individuals to make decisions that are usually not aligned with their values. This fear of trying to fit in can override their sense of reasoning, resulting in choices that may be disastrous.
Consequences of Peer Pressure
The consequences of negative peer pressure can have a long-term effect or a short-term effect:
Short-term consequences: Succumbing to peer pressure may bring about engaging in risky behaviors, ignoring personal values, or going through feelings of guilt or regret for the moment.
Long-term consequences: When negative decision-making is repeated as a result of bad influence from peer groups, it can lead to long-term consequences like addiction resulting in substance abuse, academic lapses, difficulties in establishing personal identity, and mental health issues.
Strategies for Navigating Peer Pressure
There are several ways an individual can use to navigate and cope with peer pressure:
Surround yourself with positive peer groups: surround yourself with peers with positive values and support positive decisions. People who respect your decisions and do not impose their habits on you. These kinds of peer groups will help control negative peer pressure.
Assertiveness: The ability to express your opinions, values, and beliefs without conforming to the pressure of others. When an individual can assert his values and boundaries to his peers, it becomes easier to resist and make decisions that align with your values
Weigh the consequences: Weighing the consequences of a decision can give an individual a rethink and restrictions in making potentially risky decisions. To make this easy, compare short-term gratification to the term consequences.
Seek counsel from adults: seeking counsel on making essential decisions from experienced and trusted adults like teachers, mentors, and parents.
Self-validation: Developing your self-esteem and self-confidence can empower you to ignore negative peer pressure. In building your self-esteem, you will learn and understand your values and who you are. By this, you will be able to make the right decision from your values.
Conclusion
Peer pressure is a significant force that can impact the decision-making and behavior of an adolescent. These influences can determine the direction of one’s life, positively or negatively. It is imperative to understand positive values and build self-esteem to be able to overcome peer pressure. Understanding how peer pressure works and how to cope with it is expedient.
