Sober living
What we are familiar with is the idea of peer pressure being a bad thing. Other negative examples may include sexting or having sex when you are not ready, gambling, criminal acts, and engaging in other risky behaviours. When a person behaves in a way that is not aligned with their values, it can be considered negative peer pressure.
How Can I Know It’s Peer Pressure?
As they grow, their need for peer acceptance is at the forefront of their brains, and the desire to fit in can sometimes conflict with their values. The examples mentioned above were studying and participating in sports. Aside from these, there are many more ways in which peer pressure can be positive. It can influence one to quit undesirable behaviours such as smoking or gambling. Other examples include eating more healthily and exercising, being more punctual, exploring positive hobbies, finding ways to support others, and so on.
Learn to Say “No” with Confidence
This can happen through what is indirect peer pressure prayer, reading God’s Word and choosing your friends wisely. It affects us subconsciously when we’re more concerned about what people think about us than what God thinks about us. We feel peer pressure when we seek approval from others instead of from God. You deserve to surround yourself with supportive people who respect your decisions—not people who pressure you into doing something that doesn’t feel right. As parents, we must be mindful of the impact of peer pressure on ourselves as our children will be observing and take notice.
- They think doing these things can fill a void that only God can.
- This occurs when your friends or peers encourage you to make healthy choices or pursue constructive activities.
- Professional therapy can help individuals of any age to learn essential skills to overcome peer pressure.
- From an evolutionary perspective, our susceptibility to peer influence likely served an important survival function.
- Teens may be tempted to give in to negative peer pressure because they want to be liked or fit in, they are afraid of being made fun of, or they want to try something other teens are doing.
Feelings of not fitting in
Having an ally who can intervene when you’re clearly uncomfortable builds motivation to leave tempting situations properly. Providing https://ecosoberhouse.com/ backup and supporting each other is a proper system which you can carry out with your buddy. Observe and take note of naturally occurring chances to talk about the topic. For example, when you come across a relevant news article related to peer pressure, or when instances of it are depicted on social media. You may also take the chance to discuss the topic with your child when someone happens to bring it up.
It’s like learning a martial art – with the right techniques, you can deflect and redirect the pressure. Peers can motivate us to try new experiences, develop new skills, and push ourselves out of our comfort zones in healthy ways. They can inspire us to be more altruistic, to stand up for our beliefs, and to strive for personal growth. This practice is essential when dealing with peer pressure, as it allows you to assess situations objectively without feeling rushed or pressured. Peer influence can show you there is support, encouragement, and community available to you.
- For example, ask yourself – do certain friends bring out my best self?
- We can also take the intentional step of being mindful about who we surround ourselves with, and who we chose to be closer to.
- Responses like “No thanks, I’ll pass” become handy scripts to draw upon if pressured later about uncomfortable things.
- Practicing this reinforces your personal values and helps you stay grounded.
- Even if you work hard to fight it, you may find yourself giving in to pressure from friends or classmates.
- Adopting a “growth mindset” allows you to view challenges as opportunities for self-improvement.
- It can involve anything from engaging in risky behaviors like reckless driving to adopting unhealthy habits like smoking, and excessive drinking just to fit in with a particular group.
- Identify friends who share the same values as you have and agree to stick together when out socially.
- It’s the negative peer pressure that we usually think of when the phrase peer pressure is used.
- “They made me do things I didn’t want to do. I felt anxious, pressured and lonely.”
Seeking professional support goes beyond normalising – it can unearth root causes behind sensitive topics that peers may unconsciously prey upon. As a college student, recognising when you might benefit from different types of therapy is crucial for your overall well-being. Peer pressure has the potential to be either positive or negative in impact. I remember standing in those moments, torn between doing something and staying silent. But staying silent always felt like participating, and I knew deep down that wasn’t what I wanted. The fear of how my friends might react—Would they still like me?
Living up to the expectations of others can certainly be draining. Sometimes peer pressure takes over your mental peace and the war between your true self and the one you want to show to others starts. This war of thoughts creates confusion in your mind about whether to follow your true self (stick to values) or do things your peers want you to do. This is a more subtle type of pressure and often goes unnoticed. It involves feeling compelled to conform to certain behaviors, attitudes, or lifestyles because you see others around you doing the same. Do you find yourself making decisions based on what others expect of you rather than what you truly want?
By seeing someone else do something positive, even if it’s challenging, you may reflect on your own life choices, goals, and where you spend your time. Peer pressure is a big deal for adolescents and young adults. Even if you work hard to fight it, you may find yourself giving in to pressure from friends or classmates. Learn how to resist peer pressure and live according to your own values. You know overcoming peer pressure is a long journey where you need to discover Oxford House your true self.
