Peer Pressure and How to Deal with it

Peer Pressure and How to Deal with it

By Anastasia Carlova

Everyone has peers within the school. Peers are people about your age that are involved in the same activities as you, or belong to the same community. Peer pressure is how your peers influence you and your actions.

Even though many people associate the term “peer pressure” with something negative, it can actually have a beneficial impact on you, too. Positive peer pressure pushes you to do your best and scale new heights. Examples of positive peer pressure may include:

• Encouraging a friend to better prepare for exams

• Showing your disapproval for gossiping and humiliating jokes

• Discouraging illegal behaviour, such as under-age drinking or smoking

• Doing volunteering and convincing friends to do the same

However, most often, people think of the negative influence of “peer pressure” when they hear this term. Some examples of negative peer pressure include:

• Collectively engaging in bullying

• Convincing a friend to skip school

• Pressuring a friend to try drugs or drink

• Pushing your peers to dress differently by mocking their clothes

Here are some tips that can help you cope with negative peer pressure:

1. Pay attention to your feelings. If you don’t feel right doing or agreeing to something, then don’t discredit these signs. Try to get out of the situation as mildly as you can.

2. Plan ahead. Try to think of some ways you could respond to potential “peer pressure” situations. Plan your answers and actions beforehand.

3. Address the pressurer(s). Let your peers know you are not okay with what is happening and would like them to stop. Don’t be afraid to talk about your feelings.

4. Get support from an adult you trust. To sort out a situation in which you are pressured, talk to your teacher, parent(s) or school counselor. Ask them for a piece of advice.

Last but not least, to make this world a better place, pay attention to your own habits. Are you helping your friends to build confidence to get out of uncomfortable situations? Or, vice versa, pressuring your peers to do a certain thing?

“If you want to change the world, start with yourself.” - Mahatma Gandhi.