Peer Pressure

We all have done something just because our friends were around. Maybe laughing on a bad joke, eating spicy chilly in a dare, or acting smart. That's a very common example of peer pressure. “All of us want to please our friends, so we're inclined to act in ways they approve,” says Laurence Steinberg, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Temple University. “It is hard to resist because we all like being accepted.”

It makes sense that your friends now have a bigger effect on how you act. You’re spending more time with them and less time with your parents than you ever have before says Anthony Burrow, Ph.D., an assistant professor of human development at Cornell University.

The way your brain works also makes it very easy to give in to the suggestions of your friends. The parts that are sensitive to what others think are very easy to trigger at your age.

Peer pressure isn’t just about a group of kids daring someone to do something. Often, it’s much more subtle. Peer pressure occurs when a group of people coerces each other to go along with certain beliefs or behaviors. The group approves of the followers and sometimes harshly disapproves of those who don’t fall in line. The consequences of being rejected by one’s peers are embarrassment and shame, both very negative emotions for teens.

Of course, not all your time with friends happens face to face. Social media can connect you with people who share your interests, from your latest celebrity crush to fitness and healthy food. You can even use the power of peer pressure for good online -- challenge your friends to get fit with you. You can post photos of your workouts or healthy meals, encourage a friend who’s reached a goal, or use an app to track your progress and then share it.

Just try to keep your social media connections positive. If someone is dragging you down or doesn’t support your goals, it’s time to defriend, unfollow, or block.

As you try to deal with how your friends affect your health choices and attitudes, you can turn to someone who knows you very well: your parents. (Yes, really.) They can help you come up with strategies to stick to your goals and manage tough times. “Parents can be very helpful guides. You’ve never been 47 before, but they have been 14 before,” Burrow said.

Peer pressure is something we all have to deal with. It’s okay to feel confused or struggle with peer pressure. Everybody faces it at some point in their lives.

• By learning how to identify peer pressure you’ll get better at dealing with it
• Standing up to peer pressure takes practice and courage – it can be scary at first
• No matter how pressured you feel, you always have the option of saying ‘no’
• You might have friends who enjoy taking risks or trying new things - it doesn’t mean you have to do the same.

Here are some situations where you might feel pressured to follow your mates:

• Taking drugs or drinking alcohol.
• Having sex.
• Sexting.
• Shoplifting or stealing.
• Skipping school.
• Driving without a license.
• Cheating on tests.
• Copying somebody else’s work.
• Dressing or acting a certain way.
• Not being friends with someone.