Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Peer pressure

Peer pressure is a powerful form of control. Here are some voices about this and how to prevent it.

Peer pressure (or social pressure) is direct influence on people by peers, or an individual who gets encouraged to follow their peers by changing their attitudes, values, or behaviors to conform to those of the influencing group or individual. This type of pressure differs from general social pressure because it causes an individual to change in response to a feeling of being pressured or influenced from a peer or peer group. Social groups affected include both membership groups, in which individuals are "formally" members (such as political parties and trade unions), and cliques in which membership is not clearly defined. However, a person does not need to be a member or be seeking membership of a group to be affected by peer pressure.
There has been considerable study regarding peer pressure's effects on children and adolescents, and in popular discourse the term is mostly used in the contexts of those age groups. For children, the common themes for study regard their abilities for independent decision making; for adolescents, peer pressure's relationship with sexual intercourse and substance abuse have been significantly researched. Nevertheless, peer pressure can affect individuals of all ethnicities, genders, and ages. Peer pressure serves as an important leadership tool and a powerful motivator for charitable giving and voting. Regarding two of history's recent genocides, the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide, there has been strong debate over the role peer pressure played in the atrocities (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer_pressure)

The mechanisms of peer pressure
To understand what peer pressure is and why it has such impact on
our lives we need to recognize the fact that fitting in and being part of
a group is part of life. As it is very important for our survival that we
have other people around us, we learn from a very early age to
imitate others. We learn from other people and they learn from us.
There are many positive examples of how peer influence can make a
person grow and develop new skills. A classmate shows you how to
solve a difficult maths problem or how to do a new trick on your
skate- board. Maybe you admire your friend and you want to be more
like him or her. In turn, you may influence your classmate to like the
same films or music as you do.
But peers can also have a negative impact on you. For example,
friends at school may ask you to join in skipping classes with them
just for fun. Another classmate might try to make you write nasty
comments about someone on Facebook. You may end up shoplifting
just because some friends want you to do it, although you know that
it’s wrong. These situations are all examples of negative peer
pressure.
One explanation of why peer pressure is so powerful is that people
want to be loved and accepted by others. It is easier to be influenced
to do things that you wouldn’t normally do if you’re in a crowd. The
idea that “everyone else is doing it so why shouldn’t I?” can make
sensible people behave in strange ways.
(UR pedagoger)

Prevent peer pressure:
1. BUILD YOUR SELF-ESTEEM
Self-esteem is a crucial component when it comes to avoiding peer pressure.
When you have a good self image, you're less likely to give in when someone starts turning up the heat.
You can build self-esteem by not cutting yourself down in front of others and feeling confident in your own skin.
Surround yourself with positive role models to encourage this behavior
2. THINK OF THE CONSEQUENCES
Everyone has a conscience.
Some people have the ability to brush it away, but most people DO have a conscience.
Sometimes when you find yourself in a situation where you start to cave into peer pressure, stop and think of the consequences.
There are always consequences, and sometimes they can be more grave than others.
So give every moment serious thought when you start feeling pressured.
3. BE THE BETTER MAN
Peer pressure can leave you feeling like a loser or an idiot when you stand up to your peers and say no.
But don't let this bother you!
Think of it this way-you're the better man!
You're the better man because you said no to drugs or drinking and driving.
You're the better man because you refused to do something illegal or dishonest.
So you're NOT a loser or an idiot, and trust me, someday you'll be glad you stood up for what was right!
(http://lifestyle.allwomenstalk.com/positive-tips-to-avoid-peer-pressure)

What is peer pressure?
Peer pressure is the influence you feel from a person or group of people to do something you might not otherwise consider doing.
It’s not uncommon to want to be part of a group and feel like you belong in a community, especially if you are new or less experience than the people around you.
Peer pressure often happens because you don’t want to be alone or left out. So you go with what other people think in order for them to include you. A peer can be anyone around the same age-as you, like a friend, classmate, or even someone you seen on TV and admire. You might try to live up to people’s expectations, but it’s important to be mindful to not have other people’s expectations cloud what you want.
If you’re dealing with peer pressure, you’re not alone.
How does peer pressure affect us?
Peer pressure isn’t always a negative thing. It can be a positive influence and help challenge or motivate you to do your best. However, it’s helpful to recognize that peer pressure can also be negative. It can result in you doing something that doesn’t fit with your sense of right and wrong.
Peer pressure might influence you in a number of ways, including:
Fashion choices
Alcohol and drug use
Decision to have a boyfriend or girlfriend
Choice of who your friends are
Academic performance
Where does peer pressure come from?
Peer pressure can be present at school or within a broader community. It can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. Peer pressure can affect you in a number of different ways:
Directly. Peer pressure can be as simple and direct as someone telling you what to do. It might be a good idea to talk to someone you trust if you feel threatened, or if you are being hurt or pressured into something you don’t want to do. You could talk to a family member, friend, teacher or counselor. Check out the Get Help section for more information about how they can help.
Indirectly. Peer pressure might not always be obvious to you. It’s not uncommon for a group of friends to have particular habits or activities that they do together. But when you’re with a different group of friends, it might be unlikely that you do those same things. For example, you might only smoke when you are with certain friends, or you might be more likely to study when you are with other friends.
Individually. Sometimes the pressure comes from you. Feeling different from a group can be hard. Sometimes this happens when people move to a new city or start a new school or job. This often means having to make new friends and fit into a new environment. To avoid feeling out of place, you might do things to make sure you feel like the rest of the group. When people feel unsure about themselves, they might be more likely to feel the effects of peer pressure.
What can you do about peer pressure?
Being an individual means making decisions based on what is best for you. It means taking ownership and responsibility for what you do and how you think. But being an individual also means that you can be a valued part of a comfortable and welcoming group. It might be hard to resist peer pressure and stay an individual. Here are some suggestions that can help you manage peer pressure better.
Value common interests. Hanging out with people who like doing similar stuff may help you avoid a situation where you feel pressured into things you don’t want to do. Remember that being seen hanging out in the “cool crowd” might not be as much fun as it looks if you’re not comfortable with the decisions that crowd is making.
Say no. Having the strength to say no can be hard, but it can also make you feel good to stick with what you believe in. Explain to people in a calm way why you don’t want to be part of something, and you might earn respect from others and gain confidence in yourself.
Try not to judge others. If possible, try not to place judgments on other people’s choices. Respecting someone else’s choice may help them to respect yours. Remember that you don’t have to agree with their actions. Focusing on the reasons why you don’t feel happy with the choice might help you to not judge them.
Take action. Taking action against negative peer pressure can be easier when you’re more comfortable in your environment. Standing up for yourself and others can be a way to gain that comfort. Both of these are ways in which you might be able to create a positive atmosphere within a group
(http://us.reachout.com/facts/factsheet/peer-pressure)

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