yes or no

According to the Cambridge dictionary, peer pressure is defined as “the strong influence of a group, especially of children, on members of that group to behave as everyone else does”. In other words, peer pressure is the direct influence on a group or an individual by peers who are encouraged or want to follow their peers. It generally happens among the same social group. Peer pressure is also used to describe the effect this influence has on an individual to correspond to be accepted by the group. If you’re with your friends and they convince you to do something you do not like or you typically would not do. And likely if you continue doing that particular thing you may start to like to do even that was bad or good.  A situation like this is an example of peer pressure where an individual changes their behavior, norms, and values to be liked by their peers. The pressure applied by peers may vary. For example, sometimes they do not force you but they make you feel inferior, or they might force you to do it, or they tease you if you do not agree, or they make you feel outcast by ignoring you.

The way you respond to peer pressure can indicate who you are as an individual, a leader, or a follower.

Generally, peer pressure is considered as having a bad impact on people or an individual but indeed, it has a positive impact too. Sometimes peer pressure turned out positive.

Types of peer pressure

• Positive peer pressure:- Positive peer pressure is defined as when a peer encourages people or an individual to do something positive or pushes them to grow positively and beneficially.

 For example:-  When a peer pushes someone to study hard and to score good grades. Like when in a study group someone is procrastinating and does not want to do homework others motivate him/her to complete the work on time by explaining the bad outcomes of procrastination or not doing homework.

By disapproving of bigoted jokes. Like when someone is trying to pass bad comments on someone their friends come forward to stop them by doing so.

Looking down on illegal or risky behaviors. Like when someone in the group trying to drive drunk and the other stop him/doing so instead of supporting him.

• Negative peer pressure:- On the other hand negative peer pressure involves doing something dangerous.

For example:- when someone convinces a friend to skip school to watch a movie or to do something unproductive.

When someone pushes their friends to smoke and drink or try the drug.

When someone encourages their friends to fight or bully.

As there are two types of peer pressure then its effect will also be of two types positive and negative. Positive peer pressure leads one to make good choices in their life, they can rely on their friends in a state of confusion. Peer also helps each other develop new skills. But negative peer pressure leads one towards ruin. An individual becomes worse when, surrounded by people, who encourage to do things, which should not be done. Peer pressure influences an individual’s emotional behavior, it can stimulate mental disorders. It also leads to self-doubt.

Peer pressure is very common among teens. And they are most affected. To be cool they do things, which should be not done. In most of the cases, it has been seen that they come under peer pressure in the pressure that they will be outcasted by their friends.

If you are facing the problem of peer pressure then you need to learn to say no and if the pressure continues then you have to leave them. And if you have decided to wait until you are ready to do things then you have to stick to your decision.

So, learn to say no.