Forms of Peer Pressure - Assignment Example

Running Head: Peer Pressure Peer Pressure Inserts His/her Introduction The dangerous consequences of peer pressure haveforced researchers to try finding the insights on the subject. Psychology has informed us about the dangers of environment and how susceptible human mind is. The fact that we give in to any form of perceived authority or pressure can have disastrous consequences on human life. Researches on peer pressure has elucidated upon how easily people can succumb to pressure and can act without thinking rationally about it. Peer pressure is defined as pressure or influence of a group or a sub group on a person who may or may not necessarily be a member of the group. This pressure is not physical pressure or coercion. A person is just compelled to do what the peer group is doing. This happens on a subliminal level and the person feels compelled to join the act even if he or she disagrees. It is a form of persuasion but the person performs the act unwillingly. This phenomenon comes in many forms and mostly teenage students fall prey to this. They do stuff which their friends are doing just for social acceptance. They personally are not willing to do the act but they are mentally forced. People with weak personalities are more susceptible to peer pressure. They quickly give in to pressure of social groups because they want to be the part of them. Smoking is something that is mostly done under peer pressure. The problem with peer pressure is that it comes in a very subtle form. Smoking is an addictive behavior so it just needs a trigger. After a few times the person gets used to smoking and this is one of dangers of peer pressure. The dangers of peer pressure also extend to other forms of addictions and attitudes or actions. Peer pressure is not limited to schools and teenagers. The human need of social acceptance is great. We get in groups because we want to protect ourselves. In groups we feel a sense of protection. Human beings try to hide in groups because they are afraid their deficiencies are disclosed in front of others. The influence of positive remarks or social acceptance is great on human psychology. It raises our self esteem and makes us believe in ourselves. A few positive comments about shoes or clothes can make our day and bad comments are not appreciated by anyone. Why do we behave in such a manner? We do so because we like being liked. We want our friend around us to love us. We want attention and this is another reason why we feel prey to peer pressure. We usually spend our time with different groups and sub groups like family, friends and office colleagues. We try to fit in these groups because we want people around us. When these groups persuade us to do something then it is not possible for most of us to refuse out rightly. We try to perform that act even if it is not consistent with our attitudes and beliefs. Peer pressure also shapes attitudes and beliefs in the same way as it induces particular actions in a person. Peer pressure can also be of a positive nature and peer groups can persuade a person in doing the right thing but mostly it is with the negative things. Drinking and smoking is an important area where research is required because students face this regularly in their lives. It is difficult to refuse friends all the time even though one may not believe that their actions are right or logical. The fact that dangerous habits can be inculcated in a person can have serious consequences. If information is available then we can train students from the effect of peer pressure. Research has shown that peer pressure promotes anti social behavior when children are not supervised by elders after school (Steinberg, L. 1985). This may be partly because under adult supervision children limit their activity. Also children do not get extra or free time when elders are around them so they are immune from any unwanted pressure from friends. Also children are mostly affected by peer pressure when they are alone. When it comes to smoking peer pressure plays a great role but smoking behavior is also reinforced by smoker parents and media (Evans, et. al 2006). Peer pressure thus has a positive effect on smoking behaviors of teenagers. Children are very quick to idealize adults and media also portrays certain role models. These role models are accepted and admired by children and they are followed. Peer pressure actually disguises itself in many forms. Sometimes it is in the form of beliefs. When everyone in the peer group believes in a phenomenon then the person also starts to believe in the same phenomenon. This is a form of indoctrination and only very powerful can escape this. This is how bad effects of smoking are forgotten and this is how the act is justified by the person. Conservative norms of a group can help teenagers avoid peer pressure in an effective manner (Hansen & Graham, 1991). Conservative norms like no use of a particular substance among the group can be used as an effective strategy to counter the effects of peer pressure among young people. Self esteem is also negatively related to peer pressure (Dielman, Campanelli,, Shope, & Butchart, 1987). People with high self esteem do not feel the need to conform and go with their own beliefs and actions. These people are not susceptible to peer pressure. Theory and Hypothesis Peer pressure actually breeds conformity in individuals. Social groups influence attitudes and actions, and individuals conform to those attitudes and actions. Peer pressure increases conformity the individual by turning him to corner. This is why an action like smoking which may be perceived as dangerous by a person is practiced by the same person. Smoking is taken initially because it is assumed that this will not be permanent. When peers force a person to smoke, he or she feels that this is only a ‘onetime thing’. This is actually used as an excuse or justification for smoking. Peer pressure works by eliminating barriers one by one. In the end all defenses of a person are removed and he or she takes up the cigarette as a result of peer pressure. Social desirability also influences smoking and adds to the peer pressure. All group members may think that smoking is cool so a person might also want to become ‘cool’. In the process of becoming socially desirable smoking is started by the person. The action is reinforced by the positive feedback of the peer group. All teenagers want social acceptance so in the process they give in to the peer pressure without thinking about the action. The hypothesis will be that peer pressure influences high school students to smoke more than occasionally. This hypothesis is testable as it involves high school students and occasional smoking is eliminated. This hypothesis will measure only the effect of peer pressure on long term smoking habits. This study will aid in understanding the harmful consequences of peer pressure and will help us get insight on behavior of high school students and their reaction to peer pressure. References Dielman, Campanelli,, Shope, & Butchart. (1987). Susceptibility to Peer Pressure, Self-Esteem, and Health Locus of Control as Correlates of Adolescent Substance Abuse, Health and Education Behavior, 14(2): 207-221. Evans, et. al. (2006). Deterring the Onset of Smoking in Children: Knowledge of Immediate Physiological Effects and Coping with Peer Pressure, Media Pressure, and Parent Modeling, Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 8(2):126-135. Hansen & Graham. (1991). Preventing alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use among adolescents: Peer pressure resistance training versus establishing conservative norms, Preventive Medicine, 20(3): 414-430. Steinberg, L. (2007). Latchkey Children and Susceptibility to Peer Pressure: An Ecological Analysis, Developmental Psychology, 22(4): 433-439. Read More