How to Deal with Peer Pressure

In order to deliver the most relevant content for your family, please let us know your child’s date of birth or your expected due date. Physically keep distance from peers who are engaging in risk-taking activities. They want to appear cool or worthy of acceptance by friends. how to deal with peer pressure Kids often give in to peer pressure because they want to fit in. They want to be liked and they worry that they may be left out or made fun of if they don’t go along with the group. • Remind residents to practice social distancing and perform frequent hand hygiene.

Positive influences, usually parents or siblings, can teach you how to deal with peer pressure directly. Having a trusted friend, family member, or another resource to call on can alleviate some of the everyday life stresses. They can be there to give advice or just support the decisions you’ve made that you feel are right for you. Facing peer pressure alone can be isolating and overwhelming. Creating a group that you can turn to can make a world of difference when dealing with peer pressure.

Who Experiences Peer Pressure?

One of the biggest challenges of peer pressure is being caught off guard and not having an exit plan. For this reason, it’s important to teach your kids how to prepare for peer pressure. Peer pressure relating to the use of drugs or alcohol can lead to a number of problems.

In these cases the teen needs help developing a strong enough internal compass and sense of self to confidently make independent choices. Peer pressure works as often as it does because we all at some level want to be more like other people. It’s common for teenagers to feel uncomfortable in their own skin. The more comfortable they can become, however, the less enticing it will be for them to succumb to peer pressure in order to fit in.

Talk to a Trusted Resource

In most cases, choosing friends that make the right choices themselves will help you to do the same. Destinations offers addiction treatment and mental health treatment for teens. Choose friends carefully Remember, a true friend won’t push you to do something that makes you uncomfortable. And when it comes to resisting negative pressures, it helps to have a buddy. Agree that you’ll have each other’s backs on certain things, such as not drinking too much.

They may put you down if you aren’t doing whatever the group is doing, calling you “chicken” or “weak.” But peer pressure isn’t always verbal. It’s important to prepare for dealing with peer pressure. Being able to spot signs of peer pressure will allow you to intervene when you recognize that your child or someone you care about is headed down an unhealthy road. Gender socialization may influence how receptive a young person is to peer pressure. Research indicates that adolescent boys are more susceptible to pressure for risk-taking behaviors. Peer pressure of another kind occurs with teens suffering from low self esteem or a higher than usual level of passivity.

Expert Interview: How Peer Pressure Can Be Different for College Students

If you know there’s going to be alcohol or drugs at a party, make other plans. Or, if you’re going out with a guy, avoid being alone with him… anywhere he might pressure you to get more physical than you want to be. It can be difficult to deal with the feelings that come from peer pressure. You might be good friends with someone, then feel betrayed when they try to pressure you to do something.

You might even wonder if the friendship is over or needs to end. Dealing with these emotions can be hard, so use a journal to sort out your feelings and help you cope with the stress. The way your child responds to peer pressure can indicate who they are as an individual. Natural leaders tend to be less susceptible to bad forms of peer pressure, while followers may be more inclined to go along with it. Ask lots of questions — “Where are you going?” “Who else will be there?” — even if it causes friction with your independent-minded teen. Also, reiterate your clear expectations for behavior and consequences if they are violated.

About this article

Succumbing to peer pressure often leaves people with the feeling that they’ve betrayed their own beliefs or desires in order to conform to what others want. Societal issues often engender different opinions, but it’s important to have a good grasp on the facts in order to best understand a problem. Here, we highlight some of the myths students might have heard about peer pressure, and provide a reality check to put it into perspective. Education is just the first step on our path to improved mental health and emotional wellness. To help our readers take the next step in their journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy may be compensated for referrals by the companies mentioned below.

Their demand that you try something new has just broadened your palate. You’ve had a drink or two at a party, and you know you’ve reached your limit. Help your child understand that a friend who is pressuring him to do something dangerous, hurtful, or illegal is not much of a https://ecosoberhouse.com/ friend. Recognizing this may be a result of peer pressure is the first step to getting the right kind of help. Remind yourself every now and then that you’re special and nuke any negative statements. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.