Resisting Negative Peer Pressure
Everyone becomes a victim of peer pressure at one time or another in life, not that they want to, but simply because of circumstances beyond their control.This can be good for other people as they learn from the end results of the deeds they would have been pressurised into doing.By so doing, we set our own principles and can be able to resist our peers if w stick to those principles.
Peer pressure is the subtle influence we often get from our friends and from others of our own age. It can be positive as sometimes our friends force us to conform to accepted manners and behaviour.
Negative peer pressure is when you are forced into doing something harmful to yourself or others against your better judgement just because you want to fit in.
It is one of the key phenomenona that we adolescents have to deal with as we grow into adulthood. Effective resistance to peer pressure will lead an individual to being a well matured adult.
Peers are people who are your age like your classmates and friends. When they try to influence how you act and get you to do something it is called peer pressure.
A healthy way of every child's development is to be with their peers. This is true during adolescence as teenagers develop a sense of independence from their lives individually and make their right choices.
There are many forms of negative peer pressure which engulf teenagers these days like persuasion, gifts, coercion, promises, blackmail and manipulation.
Some teens succumb to peer pressure because they want to be liked by other people, to fit in, or because they worry that other teens might make fun of them if they do not go along with the group.
Others go along because they are curious to try something new that others are doing. The idea that everyone is doing it can influence some children to leave their better judgement, or their common sense behind.
There are harmful activities associated with peer pressure which are abusing drugs, indulgence in sexual activities, truancy, dropping out of school, theft, mob justice and early marriages.
The best way to go about when you fall victim to negative peer pressure from other people is by simply overcoming it. In some situations it may not be easy as you may not even notice that you are in it, but when you realise it, it is best you get away from it and here are some ways to do it:
- Assertiveness: Express your opinion clearly and firmly so that your friends know that you exactly what you want
- Seek help from trusted individuals if you think you getting into a situation that is beyound your control before things get worse.
- Goal setting will make you focus your energy on things that matter to you rather than those from bad peers.
- Expressing your ideas in a non threatening way as you are not out to judge your friends but you just want to do your own thing.
- Effective communication with other people and your parents.
- Knowledge of what is going on around you means you avoid risky situations.
- Time management means that you have your day planned and will not drift into mischief out of boredom or sheer idleness.
