Peer Pressure Perils Essay Example
Peer Pressure Perils Essay Example

Peer Pressure Perils Essay Example

Available Only on StudyHippo
  • Pages: 4 (1052 words)
  • Published: December 7, 2017
  • Type: Essay
View Entire Sample
Text preview

Humans, as social beings, rely on others for support and form friendships to navigate life more easily. This need for social interaction also applies to teenagers, but in a different way. Unlike adults who can connect with various individuals regardless of similarities, teenagers tend to associate themselves with groups that share similar styles and characteristics. In these groups, members influence each other by encouraging changes in attitudes, values, or behaviors - known as peer pressure (Wisped).

While peer pressure can have positive effects on teenagers like motivating them to engage in philanthropy, excel academically or athletically, it should be monitored due to its negative impacts on personality development. According to Wall Mueller from the Center for Parenting Understanding, peer pressure peaks during adolescence when young people are often insensitive and capable of cruelty. This implies that pee

...

r pressure can negatively shape teenagers' character and lead them towards harmful habits and behaviors. Therefore, controlling peer pressure is crucial.

One area where peer pressure significantly affects teenagers is their appearance. Teenagers are often compelled to conform to the style and grooming choices of their social circle or gang. They rely on their close friends to establish a strong gang-like presence, complete with tattoos, low-rise jeans, tank tops, and bandanas or do-rags.

Initially, individuals may feel uncomfortable with their new appearance. However, they continue to wear these attributes and eventually gain confidence in their new look. Unfortunately, this can also lead to concern and disrespect from others. Similarly, some managers may dress inappropriately to fit in with their friends.

For instance, teenage girls in a group might all adopt the same attention-grabbing fashion style, such as very short skirts

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

and tight shirts. While they may feel comfortable in these outfits, it doesn't mean they want negative judgment from others who notice them. Ultimately, peer pressure influences teenagers' appearance and can shape negative behavior traits like being anti-social.

Teenagers often lack opportunities to socialize outside of their own circle since they do everything together - attending school, shopping, watching movies and gossiping. This leaves little room for interactions with others. Being unconsciously judged as anti-social leads individuals to be isolated within their own world.

As a result, teenagers isolate themselves and avoid seeking help from others which causes those around them to ignore their presence. This pressure can lead to irritability and anger towards disturbances. Moreover, they resist friends' attempts to persuade them into activities they try to avoid.

Continual exposure to these circumstances negatively impacts their health and potentially results in heart attacks, strokes, depression, and related issues.Moreover, individuals with severe temperaments may resort to harming those who disturb them. In essence, peer pressure contributes to the development of negative character traits in teenagers that can lead them towards engaging in risky behaviors like drug abuse or unprotected sexual encounters. Needless to say, drug abuse poses serious health risks for teenagers including depression, emotional changes, digestive problems, brain damage, and ultimately death. Furthermore, engaging in unprotected sex complicates matters further as it can result in unwanted pregnancies or norm violations. Additionally increases the likelihood of contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, syphilis or HIV/AIDS which causes significant stress in their lives. Indulging in such behaviors can also foster laziness when teenagers are bored with their tasks because friends persuade them into enjoyable activities like watching movies

or shopping.

Giving in to their friends' persuasion tempts teenagers to stop studying and waste time hanging out instead. This leads to an increase in laziness and neglecting homework becomes inevitable. Ultimately, peer pressure can result in destructive habits such as risky behaviors and laziness. However, it is important to note that peer pressure can also have positive influences on teenagers.

By spending time with friends who make good decisions and engage in positive activities like studying, teenagers can find motivation in their academics. They may even make a pact with their friends to achieve their goals of getting accepted into their dream school or university. With confidence in their abilities, they always support each other when feeling unmotivated or lazy to study, recognizing the importance of motivation in reaching their goals.

Furthermore, these friendships foster empathy within the group. Whenever someone has a problem, others step in to help solve it or offer advice. Through this empathy, they create an environment where no one feels stuck or sad; they are always available to support and assist each other, nurturing long-lasting friendships.

Another consequence of peer pressure is dependency - teenagers often become highly reliant on their friends because they feel that they need each other despite the presence of improper grooms, negative characters, and self-destructive habits. Teenagers often become reliant on their friends' opinions, resulting in a loss of self-esteem. Peer pressure not only affects grooming habits but also fosters negative character traits, encourages self-destructive behaviors, and cultivates dependency on peers.Parental involvement is crucial in mitigating the negative effects of peer pressure.

Parents should play a role in guiding and protecting their children when they

face challenges or make mistakes. For example, if teenagers start smoking because of their friends' influence, parents should prohibit them from doing so and explain the harmful effects of cigarettes. It is also important for parents to provide attention and care to teenagers as they still need it at this age. Some teenagers who succumb to peer pressure may come from broken homes where they lack parental attention. As a result, they associate themselves with friends who tempt them into engaging in negative activities.

Choosing good friends is another solution to avoid the negative effects of peer pressure, as good friends can guide teenagers towards becoming better individuals. When teenagers interact with friends who have a strong motivation to study, for instance, they will be inspired to do the same. This can lead to academic improvement and prevent laziness. Additionally, selecting supportive friends helps boost confidence and self-esteem as these friends encourage personal aspirations rather than imposing their own.

In essence, parental involvement and wise friend choices can counteract the negative impact of peer pressure and its detrimental consequences. To summarize, it is crucial for parents to regulate peer pressure due to its potential adverse effects on teenagers. Primarily, peer pressure can compel teenagers to present themselves improperly by adopting gangster-like appearances or inappropriate clothing styles.
and their susceptibility to it.

Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New