Stop Peer Pressure in its Tracks!

Written by Cassie Licari & Dominique Houle on 13/07/10

Photo by DEAL.org

Our friends are an integral part of our lives; they are a huge influence on who we are and what we do. For the most part, the friendships we cultivate provide positive experiences for our inner growth and development. However, sometimes they can have negative effects and may push us in a direction we may not want to go.

Peer Pressure

There are two very different types of peer pressure: positive and negative. Positive peer pressure stems from your friends’ desire to help you succeed and excel in life, and to also be there to listen and support you. This positive encouragement from friends allows you to be YOU, and be the best you can be. An example of this would be your friends encouraging you to study hard for a test you have coming up, or even urging you to try out for the school play because they know how much you want to.

Click here to read more about positive peer pressure.

Unfortunately there is another side to peer pressure – the negative side. This type of peer pressure means that your peers may directly or indirectly influence your decision to do something you don’t want to do, or aren’t comfortable with (TeensHealth). Examples of negative peer pressure include friends pressuring you to do drugs or drink alcohol at a party, steal and/or have sex when you’re not ready.

We all want to fit in and feel accepted by our friends, and doing so is human nature. Whether we are conscious of it or not, we sometimes look to our peers for hints on how to act or behave (TeensHealth). Many of us have a hard time with resisting peer pressure, but by being informed and aware, we can be better prepared to face it!

What You Can Do…

When facing negative peer pressure, here are some things you can consider;

• Firstly, establish with yourself what you are and are not comfortable doing. These boundaries you set for yourself will better prepare and make you feel more at ease and confident when the situation does come up.
• Listen to your conscience: If your gut tells you that a situation doesn’t feel right, then it generally isn’t.
• Plan ahead if you expect a situation where you’ll be pressured: If you know you’ll be going somewhere where you may be pressured into doing something you may not be okay with (such as drugs or alcohol) plan what you will say ahead of time, and learn a few tricks. For example, if you’re already holding a drink in your hand, like a bottle of water or juice, you’re less likely to be asked if you want an alcoholic beverage.
• Learn to say “no”: With true friends who respect you, you shouldn’t have to explain yourself when saying “no”. But if the situation arises, and you feel like you need an excuse instead of being honest, it’s always possible to say something like, “No thanks, I’ve got a big test coming up and I need my mind to be clear.”
• Hang around those with whom you feel comfortable and can be yourself. Your friends should stand up for you when you’re being brave enough to resist peer pressure, and you should do the same for them. Friends should respect your decisions and boundaries and not push you to do something you don’t want to do.
• If a situation you’re in seems dangerous or life-threatening, don’t be afraid to seek help from an adult or a police officer. In the end, your safety and the safety of others is what’s most important.

(Courtesy of TeensHealth)

It can be difficult if your peers try to pressure you or lead you down the wrong path – so check out this website for ways to create (and keep) healthy relationships! If our friends or peers are pressuring us to do things we are uncomfortable with, it is always a good idea to listen to our conscience and recognize the things that may not be right for us. In the end, we will not only feel proud of ourselves for standing up for what we believe in, but it will help us further discover and appreciate who we really are. It is always important to make sure that the choices we make are for us, and no one else.

Links

TeensHealth
TeensHealth: What Does It Mean to Be a Friend?
Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service
Alberta Health Services

2 Reader Comments:

1. 

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2. 

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