Identifying signs that your child is dealing with peer pressure may help you start a supportive conversation. The Children’s Health pediatric psychiatry and psychology department provides comprehensive services to support children’s and teens‘ mental health. School engagement is going to drop over the course of a year unless you report really strong relations with your parents. And so having a good relationship with your parents is going to buffer you against this adverse peer influence.
- The following six terms are often used to describe the types of peer pressure a person may experience.
- They are also typically striving for social acceptance and are more willing to engage in behaviors against their better judgment in order to be accepted.
- Teens who volunteer in their community can keep each other motivated to participate.
- If they pressure you to do shots with them at the bar when you aren’t drinking, for example, you might suggest that you both hit the dance floor instead.
- For example, envision saying ‚no‘ firmly in various scenarios – cheating, substances, theft.
- Start asking yourself reflective questions without judgement to understand what happened.
Peer pressure can influence a person to do something that is relatively harmless — or something that has more serious consequences. Giving in to the pressure to dress a certain way is one thing — going along with the crowd to drink or smoke is another. It’s comforting to face those challenges with friends who are into the same things that you are. But you probably hear adults — parents, teachers, guidance counselors, etc. — talk about peer pressure more than the benefits of belonging to a peer group. 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.
Dealing With Peer Pressure
Role modeling good emotional self-regulation may also help your child stick to their own values when it comes to peer pressure. Self-regulation involves the ability to control thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in order to manage current behavior and achieve long-term goals. You can also positively peer pressure others by the way you respond to situations. For instance, if your friend is body-shaming another person, you can say, „Actually, it can be really harmful to criticize people’s bodies like that.“ As part of adolescent development, teens must learn to maneuver the ins and outs of friendships and other relationships. It’s a normal and important part of growing up to pull away from parents as they do so.
Brett Laursen is a professor of psychology at Florida Atlantic University, where his research focuses on how children and teens interact with their peers and parents. Specifically, he studies how these relationships affect their social lives and academics. Dr. Laursen is a fellow of the American Psychological Association.
How to Handle Peer Pressure
Substance use impairs judgment and interferes with the ability to make good decisions. Keep in mind overcoming peer pressure is not always easy so you need to trust yourself, believe in your abilities, and most important never underestimate the power of your voice and choices. Believe that you are worthy of living a life that is true to yourself. Whenever any type of negative pressure you start experiencing, in that situation instead of agreeing to do something just pause and take deep breaths. Take time to reflect on what is important to you and what you stand for. It is when someone explicitly tries to persuade you into doing something you are not comfortable with.
While peer pressure is most frequently used to describe the influence of friends on teenagers, all people can be subject to peer pressure. When a person has been pressured into unhealthy habits, a counselor can help the individual reevaluate and change their behavior. They gain the strength needed to say “No,” even if it may be unpopular with friends. It can decrease self-confidence and lead to poor academic performance, distancing from family members and friends, or an increase in depression and anxiety.
Speaking of Psychology
Left untreated, this could eventually lead teens to engage in self-harm or have suicidal thoughts. Seeing peers use substances regularly can also give the impression that the substances are safe to use or won’t have any negative effects. Keep yourself in hobbies that inspire you, like art, sports, music and anything that makes you really happy. You can seek out student groups dedicated to service, spirituality, or activism. Structure your time proactively so you have more opportunities to invest your time in social activities. Exams, deadlines, and high expectations can cause a lot of stress for students, parents, and educators alike.
You must also help them understand that there are times when it’s all right for them to say no. Taking illegal drugs, or driving with someone who has been drinking, are examples of times in which safety demands they say no. If they are being pressured by friends to smoke cigarettes they might say, “No thanks.
You might be scared they won’t like you or want to be your friend anymore.
This means social media has great potential to amplify feelings of peer pressure, both negative and positive. Older teens and young adults may be peer pressured to engage in harmful activities like drinking alcohol, smoking, or reckless driving. At this age, peer pressure has the potential to affect a child’s long-term health and well-being https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/dealing-with-peer-pressure/ and put them into dangerous situations. Dealing with peer pressure is all about understanding your values, setting boundaries, and making decisions that align with your goals and beliefs. By following the strategies discussed in the article you can build confidence and strength to resist negative influences and stay true to yourself.
It’s easier to resist the pressure when you put some time and space between yourself and the situation. Teens who volunteer in their community can keep each other motivated to participate. This involvement can lead https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to exposure to role models and eventually lead to the teens becoming positive role models themselves. Most kids strongly desire to fit in and are especially sensitive to being picked on, made fun of, or ostracized.
