Falling Under

Peer Pressure

I was at a party last night where people were drinking. They were all hanging out in a
circle, and I felt left out. I picked up a beer can and pretended to drink so I'd fit in. It seemed like
a good idea at the time, but later I felt kind of dumb about it. What do you think of this trick?
What should I do next time? (The Chill Zone, 2015.)
What the person in the previous story just experienced is called peer pressure. Peer
pressure is the influence from a peer group, observers, and/or an individual that encourages
others to change their attitudes, values, or behaviors to conform to those of the influencing
group or individual. As shown in the brief story, peer pressure is a serious, but underestimated
topic amongst teens, especially when the factor of alcohol is involved.
Of course, the person in the story didnt actually drink any alcohol at that time, but what
happens when theyve been holding the same glass for the whole party? Or what about the next
party? It may have been only an empty beer can, but to succumb to peer pressure is not only
dangerous in many instances, but also a recurring condition teens face every day. In fact, over
twenty percent of teens reported that peer pressure was the reason why they consumed
alcohol.
Peer pressure doesnt only occur in local towns or neighborhoods, as it does in the story,
but it happens to be a nation-wide problem among teens. In fact, according to a publication on
peer pressure by Parent Further, only 10 percent of teenagers surveyed said that they had not
been influenced by peer pressure. In that same group, 28 percent of teenagers agreed that
giving into peer pressure improved their social standing, and nearly half of those surveyed
admitted to picking on someone only after a friend picked on that person. (Parent Further,
2015.) These statistics show that peer pressure is a popular act among teens. It also appears
that not only does peer pressure affect ones personal life, but it also affects the people around
the teen feeling pressured. But, if peer pressure is such a prominent issue, than what is the
source of the problem?
Where does peer pressure come from? Peer pressure is mainly brewed in school and
social atmospheres, such as sports or extracurricular activities. Directly, peer pressure can be
as simple as someone telling another what to do. However, indirectly peer pressure might not
always be conveyed in an obvious fashion, or as a responsible desion. For instance as stated
by Jeanie Lerche Davis author of Teenagers: Why Do They Rebel, statistics prove that 30% of
teenagers have shoplifted at least once due to peer pressure. (Davis, 2015) By knowing this
statistic, research proves that not only is it common for teens to fall under peer pressure, but
that teens make irresponsible decisions when influenced negatively. However, its not
uncommon for a group of friends to share similar habits or activities. But when a person is with a
different friend group, its unlikely that they will be doing the same things as with their other
friend group. For example, they might only drink alcohol when they are with one group, but not

with the other group. This forces teens to develop more than one identity. When teens are
forced to develop different identities to serve different social contexts, how can they discover
who they really are? How might this lead to other problems, like academic achievement or
mental and physical health?
The results of peer pressure can be a mix of a variety of bad decisions, physical and
mental abuse, or injury. When combining peer pressure with alcohol or drugs, decision-making
will be impaired. However, the teen may not only have regrets, but drugs and alcohol take a
serious toll on a young body, physically and mentally. These may include internal body damage
and depression. According to the website Is Peer Pressure Causing Teens to Become
Depressed, peer pressure can lower a teens self-esteem by quite a lot, and this often claims a
teens mental state which causes depression. (Is Peer Pressure Causing Teens to Become
Depressed?, 2015.) For example, a teens self-esteem may be lowered drastically by peer
pressure, in a situation such as someone getting pressured to bully another, but feeling awful
and ashamed about what theyve done later. Therefore, peer pressure affects a teen in various
harmful ways, but all of these can be avoided if peer pressure is disregarded by teens.
Certainly, peer pressure is not a necessary part of teen life, for it not only leads to
unnecessary health issues, but its a distraction in school and extracurricular activities, which
can stand in the way of achieving future goals and aspirations. Adding to that point, peer
pressure can be avoided by simply staying true to ones self. For its people who are different
who lead to making changes in the world.
So, the next time youre faced with a peer pressure decision, think to yourself, am I
staying true to myself? Or wearing a mask for my peers?

Sources
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"Statistics on Peer Pressure." LoveToKnow. N.p., n.d. Web. 07

"Is Peer Pressure Causing Teens to Become Depressed?" Is Peer

Dec. 2015.
Pressure Causing Teens to Become Depressed? N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.
- "Dealing with Peer Pressure." The Chill Zone. N.p., n.d. Web. 30
Nov. 2015.
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Underage Drinking." Publications. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2015

Hedden, Sara L. "Town Hall Meetings To Prevent Underage

Drinking." Town Hall Meetings To Prevent Underage Drinking. N.p., n.d. Web. 16
Nov. 2015.
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"Underage Drinking." Samhsa. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015

"Dealing With Peer Pressure." KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited

Site about Children's Health. Ed. Arcy Lyness. The Nemours Foundation, 01 July
2015. Web. 19 Nov. 2015
- Jacobson, Malia. "Peer Pressure." Parent Map. N.p., n.d. Web. 8
Dec. 2015.