Tiffani Larsen

3B AP English
Abstract Extended Definition Essay
September 30, 2014
Pressure
What is it that motivates people to strive for something that they know is unattainable?
Pressure. They know that perfection does not exist, yet they strive to be perfect. It is constantly
acknowledged that perfection cannot be achieved, so what impels them to try anyways? People
feel pressured by others and by themselves to reach their own version of perfection. According to
Merriam Websters Dictionary, pressure is the burden of physical or mental stress. It is the stress
or urgency of matters demanding attention (merriam-webster.com). Pressure is not tangible; it
cannot be contained, pushed away, or molded into a more acceptable form. People are driven by
an internal desire to live up to the expectations that they set for themselves. For most, pressure
carries a negative connotation. It is daunting, it is inescapable, it is crushing. Pressure is
associated with stress. It is to be avoided; one must not let themselves be pressured. Of course,
pressure can also be beneficial. Pressure is motivation. It is encouragement. It pushes people to
reach beyond their comfort zone and achieve even more than what is expected. Pressure is
evident in every aspect of life. Problems arise when they are unable to push past the negative
side of pressure and experience the benefits.
For those burdened by pressure to their breaking point, it is not beneficial. It is ominous,
dreary, and consuming. It is aggressive and competitive. It does not cheer them on from the
sidelines; it is the voice in the back of their mind telling them that they arent good enough.
Whether this pressure comes from parents, teachers, classmates, or coworkers, few people could
say that they have never felt pressured. Children experience this from a young age. They are
prodded to perform in a way that agrees with the opinions and expectations of others. They are

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taught that they must see things the way others do. They are kids, they are imperfect, they must
learn. It is hammered into their minds that they must change, they must fit in, they must strive for
perfection. For some, the pressure to be better, this feeling of inadequacy, can prove to be too
much to take on. They are taught to believe that even their best efforts are not enough if they fall
short of the unspoken goal placed before them. This burden does not end in their childhood;
instead, it is manifested in new ways as people mature. Humans have an innate desire to please
others, to fulfill another persons expectations. Often, success becomes synonymous with
perfection. People instinctively find fault within themselves, blocking their own view of the big
picture as they obsess over their flaws. Expectations that cannot be upheld are the very reason for
their downfall.
Why do some people thrive under pressure while others fail to reach their full potential?
Pressure can become a significant disadvantage to those prone to stress. Researchers have found
that the way a person copes with pressure may be linked to genetics, specifically the Catechol-Omethyl transferase gene. COMT carries the assembly code for an enzyme responsible for
regulating the level of dopamine in the brain. Those with the version of the gene that rapidly
removes dopamine are more capable of performing well under pressure, while those with the
slow-acting variation are more likely to react negatively (nytimes.com). However, understanding
where an individuals reaction to pressure stems from does not make it any more manageable.
Scientific research cannot provide a simple solution for those plagued by stress. No amount of
research can even begin to explain the effects of pressure on each individual person. Science
cannot take into account the deep-rooted feelings of inadequacy that some experience.

Pressure does not discriminate against age. Young or old, most people will fall victim to
the damaging effects of pressure at one time or another. According to Why Can Some Kids
Handle Pressure While Others Fall Apart? from the New York Times,
Never before has the pressure to perform on high-stakes tests been so intense or meant
so much for a childs academic future... The pressure to do well on achievement tests for
college is filtering its way down to lower grades, so that even third graders feel as if they
are on trial. Students get the message that class work isnt what counts, and that the
standardized exam is the truer measure. Sure, you did your homework and wrote a great
history report but this test is going to find out how smart you really are.
(nytimes.com)
The root of pressure exists not in the way that people see themselves, but in the warped light that
they view each other. The idea of perfection has transformed from the child who treats everyone
with respect and is quick to lend a helping hand, to a child who is not only respectful and selfmotivated, but also goes above and beyond the norm in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities. Children today are pressured by a plethora of new expectations, goals, and
evaluations, and the results of which are expected to follow them throughout their entire lives.
The way that people experience pressure in their youth likely predicts the way they will deal with
stress later.
What pushes a child with no real understanding of the system to strive for perfect
grades? By third grade, I was so concerned with grades that I couldnt sleep the night before
midterms. I needed perfect grades, I felt pressured to be perfect. I was in the gifted and talented
program. I believed that this was what was expected of me, not only now, but for the rest of my

time throughout school. I must always strive to be better than average. I had been taught that
school was important, and that I must take it seriously. Teachers advised me to continue on this
path. They said that if I managed to stay ahead of the curve, I would encounter countless
opportunities later. At eight years old, my mother began talking about scholarships. I felt so
much pressure to live up to another persons dreams that I was terrified I would fall short. The
source of my motivation was extrinsic; I worked hard to achieve high grades because I believed
that anything less would be a disappointment.
Under the right circumstances, pressure leads to growth. One of the most prominent
illustrations of pressure comes from those who are viewed as friends or competitors. Peer
pressure is often seen as destructive, especially when it comes to children and teens. However,
just as pressure can be cast in a positive light, peer pressure can also be seen as valuable. As
explained in Peer Pressure for Teens Paves the Path to Adulthood from the Wall Street Journal,
Peer pressure is often seen as a negative, and indeed it can coax kids into unhealthy
behavior like smoking or speeding. But it can also lead to engagement in more useful
social behaviors. If peers value doing well in school or excelling at sports, for instance, it
might encourage kids to study or train harder. (wsj.com)
This type of pressure inspires people to be the best version of themselves. An absence of
pressure can entail a lack of motivation. Could people truly be expected to do their best without
first establishing some type of expectation or goal? Of course, there are people who do not need
this outside motivation. They do not need pressure to instill the desire to excel. But there are far
more who would never have the opportunity to thrive if outside influences did not tell them to do

so. If their GPA did not matter, how many teenagers would continue to study for hours to pass
their final exams? Although an unhealthy amount of pressure can create an endless array of
problems, the solution is not to eliminate pressure entirely.
Pressure is the true test of endurance. Whether a person falls victim to the stress or
achieves something extraordinary, the underlying cause is the strength of a persons character. A
strong sense of self-worth is not easily shaken by the doubt that slowly creeps into the mind
when a person feels pressured. In the words of Robert McKee, True character is revealed in the
choices a human being makes under pressure - the greater the pressure, the deeper the revelation,
the truer the choice to the character's essential nature. People are bound to feel pressured in
some way throughout their lives. Those who welcome the prospect of progression will quickly
surpass those who shy away from a trial.
Balancing out the negative effects of pressure and recognizing the opportunity to grow is
the ideal counteraction to the dark side of pressure. Without pressure, people may never reach
their full potential. Pressure is challenging but it comes with inspiration to constantly strive to
achieve goals that seem unreachable. Time spent dwelling on ones shortcomings and inability to
be perfect will only hold them back from their true potential, and the goals and accomplishments
that are within their reach.
Sources Cited
"Pressure." Merriam-Webster. Web.
Bronson, Po, and Ashley Merryman. "Why Can Some Kids Handle Pressure While Others Fall
Apart?" The New York Times. 9 Feb. 2013. Web.
Wang, Shirely. "Peer Pressure for Teens Paves the Path to Adulthood." The Wall Street Journal.
Dow Jones & Company, 17 June 2013. Web.