Do you remember the first time you witnessed peer pressure? Perhaps your first confrontation was found through a fictional situation, like Stephanie's cigarette encouragement on "Full House," or even in a seemingly comedic setting, like “Fat Albert.” Yet, despite all of these episodes on television shows mentioning the topic, peer pressure is no sitcom. It’s a chilling reality that is still occurring.
Peer pressure can be defined as influence a friend group, observers or an individual exerts that encourages others to change their attitudes, values, or behaviors to conform to those of said influencing group or individual.
There are three main branches of peer pressure. If we want to truly change how peer pressure effects our social lives it is so important to be aware and knowledgable of all three types of peer pressure: direct, indirect, and individual.
Some may argue that it’s worse to face the pains of peer pressure individually rather than in a group being victimized, but peer pressure is peer pressure, and saying no isn't as easy as the anti-bullying videos make it seem.
According to a publication written by a company by the name of Parents Further, 28 percent of a surveyed group responded that giving in improved their social standing, which to you may seem like a small number. But think, what if you were that 28 percent? What if it was your child? Someone you love?
As we know the most prominent lures of peer pressure include drugs and alcohol. Studies show that 2,500 teens, everyday have chosen to abuse or take painkillers for the first time, around one-third of them responded that it was as a result of peer pressure. Over a year's time, this equals up to 900,000 teens in a total of only 365 days. That is ridiculous!
As of 2016, the Underage Drinking Research Initiative has found that two-thirds of 10th graders and two-fifths of eighth graders have either tried or abused alcohol. Do not be this statistic. It isn't worth it, I promise.
Though curiosity is natural, when we allow our generation, our friends and especially our children to use things like this, even under pressure, we’re not setting a very good example for those in the future or around us. Laws and boundaries keep us safe, and breaking them weakens the bonds we have as a society, as well as with each other and ourselves, and that is most certainly not a good thing, nor does it deserve to be glorified or glamorized.
Another, more overlooked and miscounted type of peer pressure, sexual relations. 14 year olds are not sleeping around because they genuinely want to, people. They learn it from somewhere, right?
I would like to point out that it is possible to be pressured into sex without it bordering on abuse or rape, due to the fact that there is still consent involved, even if it is permission that feels forced, it has still been given. It is a shame that teenagers feel a need to have sex before they’re ready, especially those who are unsure of what it is supposed to be, or those whom are unaware of what they deserve. You see, there’s a difference between sex and making love, and while there should be no shame in either, there should still be respect for both.
Statistics point out that one-third of teenage males feel pressured to have sex, and females of the same accord are almost a quarter percent, 23 percent to be exact.
The percentage of teenagers that have not received information from their parents on how to handle such pressured sexual interactions is a whopping 46 percent, almost half of the female teenage population. Come on, is "the talk" really that hard?
In this case, knowledge truly is power, and all teenagers need and deserve to know what they’re going into. The world is a large place, and it isn’t worth exploring without the tools necessary.
Last, but certainly not least, is the utter harassment that is often inevitable with peer pressure. 28 percent of the teenagers from the Parents Further survey had admitted to making fun of and picking on a person, only after their friend did, having followed by example. Bullying or teasing in general isn’t OK, but being afraid to prevent or stop it due to potential judgement by people you call your friends makes it worse.
The point is, pressured situations can end in a way that you have no control over. You lose security and safety. You lose yourself. I’ve witnessed this first hand. And it is never OK.
There are many reactions and responses to peer pressure. There are case studies and scientific methods. Psychological practices to best handle social situations. But, really, when it comes down to it, none of that truly matters.
Instead just go out and do what you’re supposed to do. Don’t allow yourself to give into the pressure of what other people think is best for you, because only you have the power to decide that in the end. We must remember that despite the words and harassment that others give us, you will always, always have a choice, and it will never be anyone’s but your own. You have complete control over yourself and your life, and once you hand it over to something or someone, it’s never easy to take it back. Take your control and keep it.
