high school peer pressure essay

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Essay on Peer Pressure: 100, 200, and 450 Word Samples in English

Updated on
Mar 2, 2024

Have you ever done something just because your friends or peers have done it? Say, watched a movie or TV series, visited places, consumed any substance, or academic achievement. This is a classic example of peer pressure. It means you are influenced by your peers or people around you.

Peer pressure can be both positive and negative, but mostly, it has negative effects. Peer pressure often occurs during adolescence or teenage years when individuals are more susceptible to the opinions and actions of their peers. Sometimes, peer pressure can lead to serious consequences. Therefore, we must deal with peer pressure in a civilized and positive way.

On this page, we will provide you with some samples of how to write an essay on peer pressure. Here are essay on peer pressure in 100, 200 and 450 words.

Table of Contents

1 Essay on Peer Pressure in 450 Words
2 Essay on Peer Pressure in 200 Words
3 Essay on Peer Pressure in 100 Words

Master the art of essay writing with our blog on How to Write an Essay in English .

Essay on Peer Pressure in 450 Words

‘Be true to who you are and proud of who you’re becoming. I have never met a critic who was doing better than me.’ – Jeff Moore

Why do we seek recognition? Why do we want to fit in? Why are we not accepting ourselves in just the way we are? The answer to these questions is almost the same; peer pressure. Peer pressure is the influence of our peers in such a way, that we wish and try to do things in the same way as others did.

Negatives and Positive Peer Pressure

Peer pressure can have positive and negative effects. Positive peer pressure can result in better academic performance, personal growth and development, etc. We can be a source of inspiration to our friends or vice versa, which can result in better academic growth, adopting healthier lifestyles, and engaging in community service. For example, you are part of a group collaborating on a community project that demonstrates the constructive influence of peer interaction. This can encourage a sense of purpose and shared responsibility.

Negative Peer Pressure is the opposite of positive peer pressure. In such cases, we are influenced by the negative bad habits of our peers, which often result in disastrous consequences. Consider the scenario where one of your friends starts smoking simply to conform to the smoking habits of his peers, highlighting the potentially harmful consequences of succumbing to negative influences.

How to Deal With Peer Pressure?

Peer pressure can be dealt with in several ways. The first thing to do is to understand our own values and belief systems. Nobody wants to be controlled by others, and when we know what is important to us, it becomes easier to resist pressure that goes against our beliefs.

A person with self-esteem believes in his or her decisions. It creates a strong sense of self-worth and confidence. When you believe in yourself, you are more likely to make decisions based on your principles rather than succumbing to external influences.

Choosing your friends wisely can be another great way to avoid peer pressure. Positive peer influence can be a powerful tool against negative peer pressure.

Building the habit of saying ‘No’ and confidently facing pressure in uncomfortable situations can be a great way to resist peer pressure. So, it is important to assertively express your thoughts and feelings.

Peer pressure can have different effects on our well-being. It can contribute to personal growth and development, and it can also negatively affect our mental and physical health. We can deal with peer pressure with the necessary skills, open communication, and a supportive environment. We must act and do things in responsible ways.

Also Read: Essay on Green Revolution in 100, 200 and 500 Words

Essay on Peer Pressure in 200 Words

‘A friend recently started smoking just because every guy in his class smokes, and when they hang out, he feels the pressure to conform and be accepted within the group. However, he is not aware of the potential health risks and personal consequences associated with the habit.

This is one of the many negative examples of peer pressure. However, peer pressure can often take positive turns, resulting in better academic performance, and participation in social activities, and physical activities.

Dealing with peer pressure requires a delicate balance and determination. Teenagers must have alternative positive options to resist negative influences. Developing a strong sense of self, understanding personal values, and building confidence are crucial components in navigating the challenges posed by peer pressure.

Learning to say ‘No’ assertively can be a great way to tackle peer pressure. You must understand your boundaries and be confident in your decisions. This way, you can resist pressure that contradicts your values. Also, having a plan in advance for potential pressure situations and seeking support from trusted friends or mentors can contribute to making informed and responsible choices.

‘It is our choice how we want to deal with peer pressure. We can make good and bad decisions, but in the end, we have to accept the fact that we were influenced by our peers and we were trying to fit in.’

Essay on Peer Pressure in 100 Words

‘Peer pressure refers to the influence of your peers. Peer pressure either be of positive or negative types. Positive peer pressure can encourage healthy habits like academic challenges, physical activities, or engaging in positive social activities. Negative peer pressure, on the other hand, can lead us to engage in risky behaviours, such as substance abuse, reckless driving, or skipping school, to fit in with our peers.’

‘There are many ways in which we can deal with peer pressure. Everyone has their personal beliefs and values. Therefore, they must believe in themselves and should not let other things distract them. When we are confident in ourselves, it becomes easier to stand up for what we believe in and make our own choices. Peer pressure can be dealt with by staying positive about yourself.’

Ans: ‘Peer pressure refers to the influence of your peers. Peer pressure either be of positive or negative types. Positive peer pressure can encourage healthy habits like academic challenges,, physical activities, or engaging in positive social activities. Negative peer pressure, on the other hand, can lead us to engage in risky behaviours, such as substance abuse, reckless driving, or skipping school, to fit in with our peers.’

Ans: Peer pressure refers to the influence of our peers or people around us.

Ans: Peer pressure can have both positive and negative effects on school children. It can boost academic performance, encourage participation in social activities, adopt healthier lifestyles, etc. However, peer pressure often results in risky behaviours, such as substance abuse, unsafe activities, or other harmful behaviours.

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Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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Peer Pressure Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on peer pressure.

Peer pressure can be both negative and positive. Because if a person is a peer pressuring you for a good cause then it is motivation. Motivation is essential for the growth of a person. While peer pressure for a bad cause will always lead you to a disastrous situation.

Therefore it necessary for a person to not get influenced by the people around them. They should analyze the outcome of the deed in a strict manner. So that they no may commit anything harmful for themselves. As this world is full of bad people, so you need to be careful before trusting anybody.

Advantages of Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is advantageous in many ways. Most importantly it creates a sense of motivation in the person. Which further forces the person to cross the barrier and achieve something great. Furthermore, it boosts the confidence of a person. Because our brain considers people’s opinions and makes them a priority.

Many salesmen and Entrepreneurs use this technique to influence people to buy their products. Whenever we are in a social meet we always get various recommendations. Therefore when a person gets these recommendations the brain already starts liking it. Or it creates a better image of that thing. This forces the person to buy the product or at least consider it.

This peer pressure technique also works in creating a better character of a person. For instance, when we recommend someone for a particular job, the interviewer already gets a better image of that person. Because he is recommended by a person the interviewer trusts. Therefore there is a great chance of that person to get hired.

Above all the main advantage of peer pressure can be in youth. If a young person gets influenced by an individual or a group of people. He can achieve greater heights in his career.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Disadvantages of Peer Pressure

There are various disadvantages of peer pressure which can harm a person in many ways. If any person is not willing to perform a task then the peer pressure can be frustrating to him.

Furthermore, peer pressure should not be in an excessive manner. Because it lands a negative impact on the person. A person should be of the mindset of listening to himself first. While considering opinions in favor of him.

Peer pressure in youth from a bad company can lead a person to a nasty situation. Furthermore, it can also hamper a student’s career and studies if not averted. Youth these days are much influenced by the glamorous life of celebrities.

And since they follow them so much, these people become their peers. Thus they do such things that they should not. Drugs and smoking are major examples of this. Moreover most shocking is that the minors are even doing these things. This can have adverse effects on their growth and career.

It is necessary to judge the outcome of a deed before getting influenced by peers. Furthermore, peer pressure should always be secondary. Your own thoughts and wants should always have the first priority.

Q1. What is peer pressure?

A1 . Peer pressure is the influence on people by their peers. As a result, people start following their opinions and lifestyle. Furthermore, it is considering a person or his opinion above all and giving him the priority.

Q2. Which sector of the society is the peer pressure adversely affecting?

A2 . Peer pressure has adverse effects on the youth of society. Some false influencers are playing with the minds of the youngsters. As a result, the youth is going in the wrong direction and ruining their career opportunities.

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Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University

Social Impact Oct 2, 2018

How peer pressure can lead teens to underachieve—even in schools where it’s “cool to be smart”, new research offers lessons for administrators hoping to improve student performance..

Leonardo Bursztyn

Georgy Egorov

Robert Jensen

Peer pressure can play a huge role in the choices that students make in school, extending beyond the clothes they wear or music they listen to.

Think, for example, of a student deciding whether to participate in educational activities, such as raising their hand in class or signing up for enrichment programs. While these efforts may be good for a college application, they also could affect how classmates perceive the student. Pressure to not seem like a nerd could make kids refrain from taking part. So why, exactly, do some kids shy away from showing effort in front of their peers? In a recent study, Georgy Egorov , a professor of managerial economics and decision sciences at Kellogg, and his collaborators considered two possibilities. In some schools, perhaps kids face a social stigma for publicly making an effort to excel. The researchers called this culture “smart to be cool.” But in other schools, perhaps high achievers are popular, and students feel pressure to do well; in other words, it’s “cool to be smart.” Perhaps counterintuitively, this type of school culture could also cause kids to avoid participating if they do not view themselves as smart and don’t want to reveal their poor grasp of the material. “If social pressure rewards high performance, then they might want to shy away from engaging if they feel unprepared,” Egorov says. The researchers used a mathematical model, as well as a field experiment at three high schools, to confirm their prediction that the reason why students shy away from showing effort can differ depending on which of these two school cultures is predominant. Given that, it is important for administrators to know which culture is stronger at a particular school when designing policies, Egorov says. For example, in a cool-to-be-smart school, students might be more likely to attend an after-school program if it is called “enrichment” rather than “extra help.” But in a smart-to-be-cool school, kids might find it more socially acceptable to seek “extra help” to avoid failing a class than “enrichment,” which suggests trying to excel. Overall, the research suggests that the reasons why some students fail to take advantage of educational opportunities can differ greatly depending on the school’s overall culture. “Many schools have kids who are underperforming,” Egorov says, “but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s all the same mechanism at work.”

An Alternate Explanation

The starting point for this research was an influential 2006 paper by Harvard economist Roland Fryer. Fryer was interested in underperformance among minority students, and looked in particular at the role of peer pressure. He found that in some types of schools, African-American and Hispanic students become less popular as their grades increase, while white students become more popular as their grades go up. In situations where studying hard is stigmatized by one’s peers, Fryer concluded, underperforming students may be deliberately trying not to appear engaged in school. But what about schools that have the opposite culture, where kids are admired for being high achievers? Do students there also deliberately downplay a desire to excel? And, if they do, are they doing it for the same reasons as students in smart-to-be-cool schools? To find out, Egorov and his collaborators, Leonardo Bursztyn at the University of Chicago and Robert Jensen at the University of Pennsylvania, first created a mathematical model to represent students in a school.

The reasons why some students fail to take advantage of educational opportunities can differ greatly depending on the school’s overall culture.

The model allowed for two types of school culture, one that rewarded high achievement and one that rewarded a lack of effort. The model also allowed students to choose to sign up for an educational activity, with their choice either being made public or kept private, as well as their performance on it being made public or kept private. Importantly, the researchers also introduced a lottery to the model. Among the students who signed up, some of them would “win” the chance to participate in the activity. The team showed that when the probability of “winning” the activity changed, interesting differences emerged. In the smart-to-be-cool school, one would expect that if signing up and participating in an activity were done publicly, fewer kids would do it because they wouldn’t want to seem like they are trying hard. But what happens when the chances of winning the activity increase? In making their decision, students are weighing two types of benefits: the social perks of their classmates’ approval if they do not appear to be trying to excel vs. the economic perks of getting a better education. When the chances of winning are low, the student is socially stigmatized for signing up and probably will not even receive the educational reward. But if the chances of winning are high, the net benefits increase. While the student still faces disapproval from peers, at least she is more likely to boost her economic prospects. And, under these circumstances, the model predicts that more students would likely sign up. “You are more likely to sign up if at least you get something for that,” Egorov says. In this “public” scenario, increasing the chances of winning would have the opposite effect at a cool-to-be-smart school. Students there benefit socially from signing up: showing they want to participate makes them fit in with the high achievers. So when the probability of winning is low, students can sign up to signal that they are smart without running a big risk that they will actually have to do the activity in public, which could reveal that they are low performers. If the chances of winning—and therefore having their performance made public—are high, they are less likely to sign up. Egorov compares the situation to a teacher asking a question in class. If a low-performing student raises his hand when no one else is doing so, his chances of “winning” participation—that is, being called on by the teacher—are high. So the student is unlikely to take that risk. But if ten other kids have already raised their hands, a low-performing student might do the same to fit in with smart peers, since the teacher probably won’t call on him anyway. “Raising your hand is safe,” Egorov says. “You try to pool with the high performers at low risk.”

Striking Differences

To test these predictions, the team visited 11th-grade classrooms at three high schools in Los Angeles: one that previous research hinted would have a smart-to-be-cool culture, and two others that the team suspected might have a cool-to-be-smart culture. (A subsequent survey of students indeed confirmed that the schools had the predicted cultures.) To run their experiment, the researchers gave 511 students a form that offered the chance to enter a lottery to win a real SAT prep package, which would include a diagnostic test to identify strengths and weaknesses. Some forms said that the sign-up decision and test results would be completely anonymous; others hinted that the results might be visible to classmates. The team also varied the probability of winning the lottery for the package. Some forms said the student had a 75 percent chance, while others listed a 25 percent chance. As expected, fear of peers’ judgment seemed to drive decisions. In both types of schools, when the students’ choice and test results were private, about 80 percent signed up. But in the public scenario, that figure dropped to 53 percent. If the experiment had stopped there, the researchers might have assumed that effort and achievement were stigmatized in all the schools. But when researchers analyzed the results based on whether the probability of winning the lottery was high or low, a very different picture emerged. As their model predicted, changing the chance of winning in the public scenario revealed substantial differences between the two types of schools. In the smart-to-be-cool school, sign-up rates rose from 44 percent to 62 percent when the probability of winning the lottery increased, suggesting that students were willing to risk social stigma only when they thought they stood a good chance of accessing the SAT prep package. But in cool-to-be-smart schools, sign-up rates showed the opposite pattern, dropping from 66 percent to 40 percent.

Tailored Policy Solutions

Egorov is quick to point out that the experiment was done at only three schools, so the findings should not be generalized across schools based solely on their student demographics or other observable factors, such as school location. But, he says, the results suggest that administrators should understand their school’s culture when designing policies. For example, making class participation mandatory in a smart-to-be cool school could reduce the stigma of raising one’s hand. But in a cool-to-be-smart school, the same policy could provoke struggling students to disrupt class so they can avoid participating.

James Farley/Booz, Allen & Hamilton Research Professor; Professor of Managerial Economics & Decision Sciences

About the Writer Roberta Kwok is a freelance science writer based near Seattle.

About the Research Bursztyn, Leonardo, Georgy Egorov, and Robert Jensen. Forthcoming. “Cool to Be Smart or Smart to Be Cool? Understanding Peer Pressure in Education.” Review of Economic Studies .

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What Is Peer Pressure?

Types, Examples, and How to Deal With Peer Pressure

David Young-Wolff/The Image Bank / Getty Images

Parental Influence
Peer Pressure at All Ages
How to Cope

Peer pressure is the process by which members of the same social group influence other members to do things that they may be resistant to, or might not otherwise choose to do. Peers are people who are part of the same social group, so the term "peer pressure" refers to the influence that peers can have on each other.

Usually, the term peer pressure is used when people are talking about behaviors that are not considered socially acceptable or desirable, such as experimentation with alcohol or drugs.

Though peer pressure is not usually used to describe socially desirable behaviors, such as exercising or studying, peer pressure can have positive effects in some cases.

Types of Peer Pressure

In reality, peer pressure can be either a positive or negative influence that one peer, or group of peers, has on another person. The following six terms are often used to describe the types of peer pressure a person may experience.

Spoken vs. Unspoken Peer Pressure

As the name suggests, spoken peer pressure is when someone verbally influences another person to do something. For instance, a teenager might influence their friend to smoke a cigarette by saying, "Come on, one cigarette won't hurt."

Unspoken peer pressure, on the other hand, is when no one verbally tries to influence you. However, there is still a standard set by the group to behave in a certain way.

Even if no one tells the teenager to smoke a cigarette in the example above, the teen may still feel pressured by their peers to partake in the activity because it seems like everyone is doing it.

Direct vs. Indirect Peer Pressure

Direct peer pressure is when a person uses verbal or nonverbal cues to persuade someone to do something. The example mentioned above of a teen handing another teen a cigarette is also an instance of direct peer pressure because the teen on the receiving end must decide on the spot how they're going to respond.

With indirect peer pressure, no one is singling you out, but the environment you're in may influence you to do something. If you're at a party where everyone is drinking, for instance, you might feel pressured to drink even if no one asks you to.

Positive vs. Negative Peer Pressure

Finally, peer pressure can be described as either positive or negative. Positive peer pressure is when a person is influenced by others to engage in a beneficial or productive behavior.

Negative peer pressure is the influence a person faces to do something they wouldn't normally do or don't want to do as a way of fitting in with a social group. People often face negative peer pressure to drink alcohol, do drugs, or have sex.

Examples of Peer Pressure

Peer pressure causes people to do things they would not otherwise do with the hope of fitting in or being noticed.

Things people may be peer pressured into doing include:

Acting aggressively (common among men)
Bullying others
Doing drugs
Dressing a certain way
Drinking alcohol
Engaging in vandalism or other criminal activities
Physically fighting
Only socializing with a certain group

Peer pressure or the desire to impress their peers can override a teen or tween's fear of taking risks, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Kids. Risky behavior with drugs and/or alcohol may result in the following:

Alcohol or drug poisoning
Asphyxiation
Driving under the influence (of alcohol or other drugs)
Sexually transmitted diseases

Behavioral Addiction

People can also feel an internal pressure to participate in activities and behaviors they think their peers are doing, which can put them at risk for the following behavioral addictions:

Food addiction
Gambling addiction
Internet addiction
Sex addiction
Shopping addiction
Video game addiction

In the case of teens, parents are rarely concerned about the peer pressure their kids may face to engage in sports or exercise, as these are typically seen as healthy social behaviors. This is OK, as long as the exercise or sport does not become an unhealthy way of coping, excessive to the point of negatively affecting their health, or dangerous (as in dangerous sports).

What starts out as positive peer pressure may become negative pressure if it leads a person to over-identify with sports, for example, putting exercise and competition above all else.

If taken to an extreme, they may develop exercise addiction , causing them to neglect schoolwork and social activities, and ultimately, use exercise and competition in sports as their main outlet for coping with the stresses of life. This can also lead to numerous health consequences.

Examples of Positive Peer Influence

We tend to hear more about the potentially negative effects of peer pressure. But the reality is, peer pressure can be positive. For instance, two friends might put positive pressure on each other to go to the gym together and stay accountable for their fitness goals.

Teens who volunteer in their community can keep each other motivated to participate. This involvement can lead to exposure to role models and eventually lead to the teens becoming positive role models themselves.

You can also positively peer pressure others by the way you respond to situations. For instance, if your friend is body-shaming another person, you can say, "Actually, it can be really harmful to criticize people's bodies like that."

In turn, your friend might reconsider criticizing people based on their appearance. By simply adhering to your own values and sharing them with a friend, you can positively peer pressure them to think before making a negative comment.

Parental Influence vs. Peer Pressure

Although parents worry about the influence of peers, overall, parents also can have a strong influence on whether children succumb to negative peer pressure.

Rather than worrying about the effects of their children's friendships, parents would do well to focus on creating a positive, supportive home environment. That way, even if your child is peer pressured to do something they don't want to do, they'll feel comfortable coming to you to talk about it first.

Role modeling good emotional self-regulation may also help your child stick to their own values when it comes to peer pressure. Self-regulation involves the ability to control thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in order to manage current behavior and achieve long-term goals.

This will teach your child positive ways of solving problems and coping with uncomfortable feelings, rather than trying to escape by doing things to fit into a crowd. Peer pressure to take potentially harmful risks can be balanced by parents ensuring that they set appropriate boundaries, provide support, and help to avoid risks. A few examples:

Pick up your child from events where alcohol or drugs may have been consumed.
Provide balanced, truthful information on issues such as alcohol and drug use.
Stay involved in your child's life. Believe it or not, you are one of their biggest influences and they listen when you talk.
Urge the importance of thinking before doing. Teach teens to ask themselves questions like: Could this harm me or someone else? Will this put my health or safety at risk? Is it legal? What are the long-term consequences for my health, family, education, and future?

Peer Pressure Beyond Childhood

Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to peer pressure because they are at a stage of development when they are separating more from their parents' influence, but have not yet established their own values or understanding about human relationships or the consequences of their behavior.

They are also typically striving for social acceptance and are more willing to engage in behaviors against their better judgment in order to be accepted.

However, adults are also vulnerable to peer pressure. Many adults are susceptible to drinking too much because their friends are doing it, or putting work before family because they're competing with other people in their office for a promotion.

The bottom line: Being aware of, and carefully choosing the influence of peers that will lead to healthy and happy experiences is a lifelong process.

How to Deal With Peer Pressure

Dealing with peer pressure can be difficult, but below are some ways to help address it.

Take Your Time

Instead of quickly agreeing to do something you'd rather not do, pause and take a few deep breaths . If someone is waiting for you to answer them, tell them you need to take a few days and think about it. It's easier to resist the pressure when you put some time and space between yourself and the situation.

Consider Your Reasons

When you're faced with a choice, ask yourself what your reasons are for doing something. If it's because all of your friends are doing it and you're afraid they won't talk to you if you don't join them, then you may want to reconsider.

You deserve to surround yourself with supportive people who respect your decisions—not people who pressure you into doing something that doesn't feel right.

Set Boundaries

Saying "no" can be hard, but it's necessary to set healthy boundaries in relationships. If someone persistently pressures you to do something, you can try telling them how it affects you.

For instance, you might say something like, "It upsets me when you offer me a cigarette when you know I don't smoke. I won't be able to keep hanging out with you if you don't respect my answer."

Offer an Alternative

It's possible that a friend who is peer pressuring you simply wants to spend more time with you or connect with you, but they don't know how else to ask.

If they pressure you to do shots with them at the bar when you aren't drinking, for example, you might suggest that you both hit the dance floor instead. Or maybe, you make a plan to go on a hike or to the movies the next time you hang out. That way, you're fulfilling both of your needs in a mutually beneficial way.

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By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada.

Peer pressure - List of Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

Peer pressure involves influence exerted by a peer group in encouraging a person to change their attitudes, values, or behaviors to conform to group norms. An essay on peer pressure could explore its effects on individuals, especially among teenagers, both positively and negatively. It may also delve into the psychological mechanisms behind peer pressure, strategies for resisting negative peer pressure, or the role of peer pressure in societal conformity and individual decision-making. We have collected a large number of free essay examples about Peer Pressure you can find in Papersowl database. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Positive Effects of Peer Pressure

What is peer pressure? Peer pressure is any influence from a group of people that changes a person’s behaviour or attitude. The term ‘peer pressure’ raises a lot of eyebrows; it is automatically assumed that it is inherently negative. However, this is not always the case. Despite the obvious stigma surrounding social influences, it is possible to be pressured in a positive way. There is another side of this phenomenon that most people don’t even consider to be peer pressure. […]

Peer Pressure in the Teen Years

Now a days, it’s hard to survive from peer pressure especially in the teen years. There are many solutions to handle peer pressure, but the most significant ways of doing it is keeping yourself busy. Surrounding yourself with people that you are very comfortable with, understanding your limits, keeping yourself busy with work, studying/doing homework, playing sports, etc. are all examples of keeping yourself busy. Once these solutions are executed, peer pressure will never become a problem.As children become teens […]

Educational Journey

Introduction Educational journey is a lifetime journey. This is a journey that gives us knowledge this journey help us to think critically and independently it help us to be innovative. I interviewed 2 people about their educational journey. I interviewed Sandile Ngcobo who is an 18 year old boy. He is from Pinetown in a place called KwaNdengezi. He was raised by his mother who is a single parent. He’s the only boy in the family he is the last […]

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Everyone is Affected by Peer Pressure

Dear Time Warner Cable, Everyone is affected by peer pressure., Tthe positive side of peer pressure can have many benefits for the average teen or child. This can benefit teens and children that are being pressured to good deeds, and make good decisions for their own benefits. Peer pressure can be beneficial because it can encourage better behaviors, teens can develop good mentality, and teens can develop physically as well. First of all, pressuring someone to help others or often […]

Peer Pressure – Science Research

Peer pressure is typically placed upon adolescent’s shoulders by fellow peers in various situations and becomes a strong influence in an adolescent’s life. Peer pressure becomes inevitable for many adolescents and are caught between making a bad decision for the wrong reasons or making a right decision in order to aid in their success. Peer pressure can lead adolescents to engage in either risk-taking such as substance use or positive behavior. Researchers have done many experiments as to how peer […]

Crime and the why

Introduction Crime is an unlawful activity conducted by a person who is punishable by the government. The state has the duty to restrict one's free will of committing a crime through the security police officers who have the power to arrest. Whenever a person is found guilty, they are provided separated from the community through imprisonment in order to rectify their behaviors. In both developing and developed countries, crime is very common which result from various reasons such as high […]

Peer Pressure Among Teenagers

Peer pressure among teenagers is witnessed in almost all circles, with effects such as sexually transmitted diseases, increased murder cases, and unintentional injury or driving under the influence of alcohol. These are harmful indicators of health associated with many teenagers around the globe (Karakos, 2014). Indeed, these adverse effects can have dire consequences on the lives of these youths, especially regarding how they behave. Part of the increased changed behavior is that most of these teens are in their trial […]

Peer Pressure, what you could do Essay

Peer pressure is a very common issue that we have nowadays. Throughout your lifetime you might have noticed negative peer pressure going around. According to a study conducted by the foundation for a Drug-Free World said, “55% of people confessed to having trying drugs for the first time because they felt pressured by their friends to do the same” (Borkar, R., 2018, pg.1), later on the same foundation found out that. “70% of teens who actively smoke, said that they […]

Should the Legal Drinking Age in South Africa be Raised to 21?

Alcohol is a colourless, volatile, inflammable liquid that is found in wines and beers and can have a harmful effect in the human body causing it not to function well; the human brain continues developing until a person has reached his or her mid 20s therefore alcohol’s effect on the brain may be worse among younger people. The legal drinking age in South Africa should be raised to 21 in order to stop young school children from going to unlicensed […]

Peer Pressure Can Help Mould a Atudent’s Life

Peer pressure is the effect on individuals by their peers. Thus, individuals begin following their assessments and way of life. Besides, it is thinking about an individual or his assessment most importantly and giving him the need. Peer pressure effectively affects the young people of society. Some bogus influencers are playing with the personalities of the young people. Therefore, the young are going off course and demolishing their professional openings. Thusly it essential for an individual to not get affected […]

Representative Characters in “Heathers”

Imagine sitting in your high school cafeteria and looking out amongst the sea of different cliques and wondering where you fit in, or questioning the clique of which you are a part. While many of us may resent our peers, we wouldn’t go as far as to kill those whom we hate. Such possible real-world experiences resonate in the fictional world of film. Standing on top of the social ladder and granted immunity from scrutiny are the Heathers, your average […]

Smoking Tobacco Among Teens

Smoking is widespread among the US teenagers, with risk factors including health issues, peer influence, and risky sexual behavior; advocates should, therefore, focus on means to curb peer influence and risky behavior. Several solutions can be offered to help curb large amounts of peer pressure and risky sexual behavior. They include; vaping, community youth groups and free distribution of condoms among others. Although many factors affect teenagers, tobacco smoking, peer pressure, and risky sexual behavior are the most common ones. […]

Confronting the Issue of Conformity

Conformity, or the concept of behaving in accordance with socially accepted norms, is a phenomenon that plagues postmodern American society and is warned of in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. Huxley designs the fictional World Society as a setting for his novel, which is characterized by pervasive conditioning of all citizens to discourage individualistic expression. Conformity is not only encouraged but enforced as the only way to maintain a stable society, and the unique nature of each individual is stifled […]

Proletarian Hunger Killers: the Socially Acceptable Addiction

The issue of using proletarian hunger killers such as coffee, tea, chocolates, and tobacco has taken on the appearance of addiction (Mintz, 1986). Indeed, users of these products are akin to ordinary addicts in the manner that they depend upon these commodities to maintain a functional predisposition. There are questions regarding whether these commodities actually contribute to the overall performance of employees or if they are mere luxuries. Comparatively, why are these substances, which are designed to make workers more […]

Growing up as Impact the Academic Prospects and Psychological Adjustment as an Adolescent

"It has been long debated whether growing up as an only child can impact the academic prospects and psychological adjustment as an adolescent. Through empirical research and data analysis, the performance of singletons is measured through educational expectations, grades, and homework along with psychological distress, susceptibility to negative peer pressure, and problem behaviors. These variables helped to determine that, when compared to adolescents raised with siblings, singletons may fare better in their academic development but do not demonstrate any significant […]

Program Evaluation of the D.A.R.E. Program

The purpose of this proposal is to determine whether the D.A.R.E. program positively impacts students by following its mission and vision in empowering students to respect each other and choose to lead lives free from violence, substance abuse, and other dangerous behaviors. Having gone through this program when I was in Middle School, I am intrigued to understand more about the “just say no to drugs’ effect.Key components of this proposal include background information, stakeholders, review of the literature, theory […]

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Taking Risks and Gambling

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A Child’s Behavior

For my final project, I volunteered at the little badgers daycare. While I was there, I played with infants and a few kids. While I played with them, I observed their behaviors and observed how they interacted with other kids, myself and other volunteers, and the teachers that were there. I got to the little badger daycare right after they ate breakfast and stayed for their play time. While observing the kids, I was able to see a lot of […]

The Epidemic of Unhealthy Lifestyle

Introduction The epidemic of unhealthy lifestyle - related diseases, particularly obesity - related diseases, is the biggest problem facing modern medicine. The prevalence of obesity and obesity - related metabolic diseases has gradually increased over the past two decades to pandemic proportions. It has been proven that obesity and overweight does not only limited to a particular age group, but previous cases have found that children obesity has reached alarming levels in both developed and developing countries. Approximately 35 million […]

Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101

Christopher Browning, most known for his novel Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101, relies on the investigation of the forces at the military police Battalion. These males of 101st were not enthusiastic Nazis but common middle-aged men of working-class background from Hamburg. They were drafted but found unsuitable for normal military work. This Battalion was put to hold up the forces in the ghetto and beat all women, babies, and elderly individuals on sight. During these executions dozens of these […]

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Britney, I too found that one of the main arguments discussed in Less Guilty by Reason of Adolescence was that there should be a separate legal system for adolescents. This legal system would give adolescences reduced sentences, taking into account an adolescent’s impaired decision-making capacity, the circumstances surrounding the crime, the adolescent’s character (the circumstances that may result in a reduced sentence for an adult), as well as developmental immaturity (MacArthur Foundation). “ According to the University of Rochester Medical […]

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Influence of Parents on Teenagers

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"In this, I’m reading about peer influence among adolescents and young adults. There has been a big concern about the influence on adolescents for a number of reasons. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (2007) is that adolescents and young adults maintain the highest arrest and victimization for rates of violent crimes. As the adolescents get older they developmental period where their peers have a strong influence with each other. This is when their identity comes into play they […]

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Essay about peer pressure This is when your peers try to influence the way you think or act. Therefore, the education system took care of how to resist this phenomenon? Students that attend C2E will be required to take a core class on “Teenage Survivor Skills”. This core class will be different for every grade, that way each grade learns age-appropriate material. It is the second period on Tuesdays/Thursdays. Funding is provided for a professional therapist through Bond and Mill Levy 5A and 5B that will rotate between classes teaching and will provide counseling for whoever needs it. This includes mental health awareness, drug, and peer pressure scenarios, and preparing for real-life dangerous situations. That way, kids will be informed earlier and more prepared for what is to come. This will help prevent mental health situations or hard times coming later in life. Older kids can come in to inform the younger ones about real-life experiences and give advice on situations. The classes are year-long so that the students can get the most information as possible. The classes are treated as a core class and graded accordingly while offering more hands-on activities. “Education about substance abuse is an important part of helping individuals understand the many aspects of it…” (“Substance Abuse Education Resources' 2018). People learn better through life experiences and making their own mistakes. Teens tend to want to experiment with drugs and alcohol and the class will explain the danger and effect of it. Most experiments are because of peer pressure, which is also vividly described in The Catcher in the Rye essay . Teens think that it will provide an escape, self-medication, boredom, rebellion, lack of confidence or misinformation. The class will help provide them with better and healthier ways to find confidence, help, etc. Many opponents to the idea will think that it is a waste of time and money to provide time and funding for this opportunity. “People should take tests to see what type of mental health diagnosis they have…also, if you aren’t seeing a good therapist then it is a waste of time and money. Not all kids get better from therapy and professionals so are we wasting our time.” While this fact is true it may be misinterpreted because, “1 in 5 children in youth have a diagnosable mental health condition, and 80% of them do not receive the help they need, only 40% of these kids will graduate from high school, and over 50% (14 and older) will drop out of high school.” Throughout the common misconceptions about high school dropouts, many do not get the help they need. Having courses to inform students stops many situations before they can even begin. Some studies have shown therapy is more harmful and can make you (more) depressed. Professor Glenys Parry (chief investigator of AdEPT) said “Most people are helped by therapy, but…anything that has real effectiveness, that has the transformative power to change your life, has also got the ability to make things worse if it is misapplied, the wrong treatment or if it’s not done correctly”. Although therapy can make you more depressed, it is actually a small percentage and very unlikely. Parry also said that the people who end up more depressed is because their therapist is “not practicing properly” , and you should get a new therapist. A good therapist can help you overcome and understand your feelings ('Hotline Information'). They will help find the problem and work on solving it. Therapy can also help you overcome fears, improve relationships, cope, and get rid of bad habits (drinking, drugs, etc.). Teenage Survival Skills will help prevent and prepare middle schoolers for upcoming years and peer pressure. The classes encourage and lead them carefully through tough situations they might face.

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Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Peer Pressure — Peer Pressure and It’s Tremendous Effects on Academic Performance

Peer Pressure and It's Tremendous Effects on Academic Performance

Categories: Academic Challenges Peer Pressure

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Published: Feb 11, 2023

Words: 1408 | Pages: 3 | 8 min read

Literature review, how does peer pressure affect student.

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Peer Pressure: Positive and Negative Effects Essay

Introduction, positive effects of peer pressure in my life, negative effects of peer pressure in my life, works cited.

Peer pressure is an individual or a group’s influence on others for them to act differently, change their beliefs, attitudes, or traits to be able to suit or conform to a specified norm. Initially, an individual may not support a specified norm or action but may end up conforming to the same one after external influence from the peer group or other individuals. Solomon Asch, who conducted Asch conformity experiments, asserts that conformity to normative influence is aimed at gaining social approval or reward; it avoids social punishment or disapproval from influencing peers or groups. In my lifetime, there have been many cases when I was influenced by peer pressure, both positively and negatively (Savage 67).

Although peer pressure is usually attributed to negative behaviors and attitudes, in reality, it has both negative and positive effects on an individual. The effects of peer pressure depend on the nature of the influencing group. A bad group may influence an individual in a wrong way, while a good group may instill in a person positive values. Examples of negative peer influence include making wrong decisions, loss of identity, and development of bad habits, while positive peer influence includes exposure to the world, adopting positive habits, and overcoming bad habits. However, the negative effects of peer pressure are more apparent than its benefits (Raum 72).

There are several instances when peer pressure has been instrumental in shaping my attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs positively. Group work has been influential in ensuring my success in academics. When I was in high school, I happened to be assigned to a discussion group that was comprised of people who valued the process of studying a lot. Initially, I was not keen on my studies and I did not want to participate in academic activities which I considered irrelevant, but since members of my group valued education highly, in the end, I had to adapt their studying spirit. The influence of the group played a key role in my academic success. Some of the positive values that the group instilled in me are honesty in academics, hard work in my fields of study, and good management of time. Further, the group influenced my social life by helping me to be a responsible and disciplined individual (Savage 71).

Being an ardent Christian, I considered taking alcohol as immoral, sinful, and unethical. However, the influence of peer pressure made me consume alcohol. One summer, my college friend invited me to a party that had a lot of nice meals and drinks, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic. During that party, my friends were taking alcohol and I was the only person who did not take alcoholic drinks. At first, I rejected their attempt to lure me into taking alcohol but after some time, I went against my principles and tasted some alcohol. I took alcohol to have my friends’ social approval. Although I never tried taking alcohol after that case, my experience proves that peer pressure is a powerful tool that, can influence one to get involved in negative behaviors (Raum 88).

In conclusion, it must be highlighted that Solomon Asch was right when he stated that peer pressure is a powerful tool that can influence an individual to do what he or she did not anticipate. Peer pressure may influence a person positively or negatively. One conforms to the norms of a group to gain social reward or avoid group punishment.

Raum, Elizabeth. Peer Pressure . Chicago: Heinemann Library, 2008. Print.

Savage, Lorraine. Peer Pressure . Detroit, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Print.

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Managing Stress in High School

Our reasons may vary, but everyone experiences stress. Here are some of the common reasons high school students feel stressed, and what they can do about it.

Pamela Reynolds

Exams. Choosing a college. Figuring out what to do with your life.

No doubt, high school can be a high-pressure time in life. And high school students, as a result, get stressed out.

In fact, according to the American Psychological Association’s Stress in America 2020 survey, teens who are already under stress due to the normal pressures of high school have felt even more stress in recent years, thanks to the pandemic. About 43 percent of teens surveyed in 2020 said their stress levels had gone up, and 45 percent said they had a hard time concentrating on schoolwork. Many reported feeling less motivated.

Although life has mostly returned back to normal, that doesn’t mean the stress that high school students feel has disappeared.

The typical challenges that anyone faces in high school continue as they always have, and, in some cases, have grown more complicated. Consequently, surveys suggest, many teens continue to experience a decline in mental and physical health.

If you’re in high school and stressed, we get it. In this blog, we’ll talk about what stress is, what triggers it, and how you can manage it.

What is Stress?

“Stress” is a term we use constantly in conversation, but what does it really mean?

Stress can be defined as our physical and mental responses to some external event. The event might be considered “good” like preparing to go to the prom, or bad, like feeling tense after an illness, an argument with a friend, or while preparing for an upcoming test.

The good thing about most stress is that it usually goes away once the external event causing the stress is over.

Alternatively, there is a type of stress that results more from an internal dialogue than an external event. We call this “anxiety.” It involves persistent feelings of dread or apprehension that interfere with your daily life, even after the test, the argument, or prom, are just a distant memory.

Why Are Teens So Stressed?

Simply being a teenager can be hard. Your body is changing. You may be grappling with your sexuality or gender identity. Add to that the academic demands of high school and throw in the pressures of social media, and the tension mounts.

“Some of the common triggers of stress in teens might be anxiety to perform well in academics such as getting into a good college, peer pressure, interpersonal relationships, or body image issues,” says Sakshi Khurana, Research Fellow at Harvard’s Weisz Lab for Youth Mental Health. “Other larger issues that the world is going through — for example, climate change or war— might also act as stressors for teens as they are learning about the world.”

The most common source of stress for high school students, according to the 2017 APA Stress survey , is school itself, with about 83 percent of teens identifying school as a major stressor. The second biggest source of student stress, (according to 69 percent of students), was getting into a good college or deciding what to do after high school. The third biggest teen stress was financial concerns for the family (65 percent of students).

Here’s a quick breakdown of broad categories of factors that may stress you out:

Academics. In high school, not only are you worried about next week’s English, History or Calculus exam, but you’re also worried about applying to college and taking the SAT tests, too. It can all feel overwhelming, and you may feel pressure to please your parents and teachers.
Social Stress. Even without the pressures of academics, life in high school can be demanding. Dealing with friends and classmates, starting new romantic relationships, handling bullies and peer pressure both online and off, can be a lot to handle.
Family Issues. If your parents are divorcing, if your family is experiencing financial problems, or even if you just have trouble getting along with siblings, your stress levels can go up.
Trauma . Dramatic life events ranging from a death in the family, to an accident, to emotional and physical abuse, can cause stress. Also in this category, you can include the collective trauma of such global events such as school shootings, terrorism, and natural disasters.
Big Life Changes . Changes like moving and starting a new school can be a major stress for teens.

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What are Signs of Stress in High School Students?

If you’re a high school student feeling stressed, you may not even recognize the symptoms.

In fact, many symptoms of stress might be considered normal for teens who are also dealing with natural hormonal and physical changes. For that reason, it’s important to consider whether behavioral changes can be linked in time to an external event.

Signs of stress include:

Feeling more agitated, anxious, short-tempered, or depressed
Getting sick more often
Having more headaches, stomachaches, or other aches and pains
Feeling more tired than usual
Not being able to sleep, or sleeping too much
Skipping meals or overeating
Neglecting chores or hobbies
Trouble concentrating and forgetfulness
High blood pressure

According to the APA 2017 survey, the most common symptoms of stress among teens were insomnia, overeating or eating unhealthy foods, skipping meals, feeling angry, nervous, or anxious, feeling fatigued, and snapping at friends and classmates.

Why is Stress so Problematic for Teens?

Let’s be clear, a little bit of stress is a normal part of life, and sometimes even desirable.

Stress can act as a motivator, getting us to do things we might not otherwise. Good stress is called “eustress” and can help get you excited and energized about that first date or taking the stage in your first musical.

But too much unrelieved stress can lead to mental and physical health issues.

Your body reacts to stress by releasing a hormone called cortisol which regulates blood pressure and immune function. If you’re stressed all the time and your body produces too much cortisol, it can lower your immunity, raise your blood pressure, and impair your cognitive performance.

In teens, the part of the brain regulating the stress response is less developed than in adults, meaning that if you’re a stressed-out teen, you may experience stress longer than an adult.

“In the teen years, due to hormonal changes, stress tends to influence the emotional functioning of the brain, which in turn impacts the cognitive and executive functioning,” says Khurana.

You might not be able to sleep, you may overeat, or develop digestive, cardiovascular, or immune problems. Stress can even put you at a higher risk for developing mental illnesses like anxiety or depression .

What are the Best Techniques to Help Students Manage Stress?

Since too much stress is not a good thing for your mind or body, you should think about incorporating a few stress management techniques into your daily life.

“A few techniques that might help teens manage stress are relaxation through deep breathing, meditation, or mindfulness, channeling energy into sports or creative pursuits such as music, art, theater, and forming meaningful relationships or friendships,” says Khurana. “Additionally, every culture has its own way of enabling young people to manage stress, so drawing from those traditions might be helpful as well.”

Here are few ideas of how high school students can learn how to deal with stress at school:

Keeping a journal
Getting plenty of exercise
Eating healthy, regular meals
Making sure you get enough sleep
Downloading an app that provides relaxation exercises (such as deep breathing or visualization) or tips for practicing mindfulness
Limiting excess caffeine in soft drinks or coffee
Reaching out to friends or family members who help you cope in a positive way
Making time to do fun things
Learning to recognize and prepare for stressful periods by doing all of the above

With so many big life decisions ahead, getting through high school happy and whole can definitely feel challenging at times. It’s easy to see why so many high school students feel stressed. The good news is that there are solutions. Adopt the strategies above, take a deep breath, and remember, it’s not forever!

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About the Author

Pamela Reynolds is a Boston-area feature writer and editor whose work appears in numerous publications. She is the author of “Revamp: A Memoir of Travel and Obsessive Renovation.”

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The Effects of Peer Pressure on Students, Essay Example

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There are no simple answers to the effects of peer pressure on students. It would be unfair to say that most peer pressure results in unwise decisions, as it is often generalized within current culture. Peer pressure transforms a student in a unique manner. The current analysis will examine the most dangerous effects of peer pressure on students, as well as the general negative and positive effects.

Dangerous Effects of Peer Pressure

There are a number of dangerous effects that peer pressure can have on students. These effects are often felt within media and schools, which is where the perceived dangers of peer pressures lie, according to most. However, they certainly cannot be disregarded due to the truth of these concerns.

Alcohol is felt within the consequences of peer pressure in students. With regards to underage drinking, this is a significant problem within students, especially in high school and college. The habits and commonplace of underage drinking is established in high school, which is then perpetuated to one’s college years.

Partying in general is another example of the more dangerous effects of peer pressure. Younger students at parties are around others who are unsupervised, which makes them more susceptible to peer pressure. Thus, items like drinking and other inappropriate behavior are accepted in one’s social circle. Peer pressure is commonly seen at parties, which is where a number of dangerous activities occur.

Sex is also another example of the negative effects of peer pressure. Students are having sex at a younger age, resulting in items like teenage pregnancies. As underage and unprotected sex becomes accepted in social circles, peer pressure often has an effect on students in this way as well.

General Negative Effects

There are a number of generally negative effects that peer pressure can have on a student’s development. Beyond the more dangerous effects, at least in regards to the more clearly defined negative effects, a number of underlying effects of peer pressure can be seen with students. The dynamics that are presented in peer pressure in students can unfortunately be quite negative.

Peer pressure can often drown out the opinion of one. When students are engaged in certain social circles, it is not uncommon to see the unfair treatment of individuals. Certain individuals, whether they are not liked, ignored, or just not seen, are often unable to relate to others.

Peer pressure also removes the choices that one should be able to make. A number of events and activities that students are involved in are done on a social level. Such activities remove the healthy choices that enable students to seek adventure and healthy activities, instead of what is expected or on schedule.

The underlying negative dynamic of peer pressure is the ultimate undermining of individuality. Peer pressure has the unfortunate effect of removing one’s own will and desires, in order to become accepted or liked within a social circle. As seen in these negative examples and in the more dangerous illustrations, the individual is often casted our in peer pressure. As a result, one is left to follow others in that of peer pressure.

General Positive Effects

Peer pressure can of course have positive effects on students. While this is often not portrayed, it rings true for many students. It can often push and help one to realize or perform something, to help someone thrive with the help of others.

Peer pressure can help individuals in more difficult periods. Friends are there to help someone in tough times, and peer pressure can help someone who needs wise council. Many students, who are involved with the right people, are able to enjoy the positive relationships when they need them the most.

Some activities driven by peer pressure can help students get involved. Activities and functions can be great for the social development of a student. Peer pressure, even when applied outside of one’s comfort zone, can ultimately be beneficial.

Peer pressure can also help individuals make the right choices. When students face difficult choices in their life, they often rely on their friends. In this manner peer pressure can help persuade one to the right decision, allowing their friend to see the positive way to react to an important choice.

It is unfortunate that peer pressure is often regarded in one dimension. While there are certainly negative effects of peer pressure, such as those that undermine one’s individuality and encourage dangerous practices, peer pressure can help an individual develop through the difficult times as a student and a person. Centered on surrounding oneself with positive influences, peer pressure can rise above the negative effects to institute healthy social and personal steps of one’s development.

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Home / Essay Samples / Sociology / Peer Pressure / The Problem Of Peer Pressure In High School

The Problem Of Peer Pressure In High School

Category: Education , Sociology , Life
Topic: High School , Peer Pressure , Pressure

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