Free Essays,College Free Essays,Free College Essays at Anti Essays

What is peer pressure?
It is not uncommon to want to be part of a group and feel like we belong in our community. Peer pressure can happen when we are influenced to do something we usually would not do or stopped from doing something we would like to do. This may be because we want to be accepted by our peers. A peer can be anyone you look up to or someone who you would think is an equal in age or ability. A peer could be a friend, someone in the community or even someone on TV. You may experience peer pressure as you live up to either the individual's or group's expectations or follow a particular fashion or trend.
How does peer pressure effect us?
Peer pressure may be a positive influence and help to challenge or motivate us to do our best. Peer pressure may also result in you doing stuff that may not fit with your sense of what is right and wrong.
Peer pressure may influence us in a number of ways, including our:
• Fashion choice
• Alcohol and other drugs use
• Decision to have a boyfriend/girlfriend
• Choice of who our friends are
• Academic performance
Where does peer pressure come from?
Peer pressure may be present in the workplace, at school or within the general community. It can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. It may affect people in different ways. Some of the ways it may affect you include:
Directly - You may experience peer pressure as someone telling you what you should be doing. It may be a good idea to talk to someone you trust if you feel threatened, are being hurt or being pressured into something you do not want to do. This may be a family member, teacher, youth worker or counsellor. Check out the Finding Help Section for more information about how they can help.
Indirectly - Peer pressure may not always be obvious to you. It is not uncommon for a group of friends to have particular habits or activities that they do together. It may be...