Peer Pressure

 

R a m t e k e  | 1

A PROJECT ON

PEER PRESSURE

SUBMITTED TO-

SUBMITTED BY –  BY –  

MRS. ALKA MEHTA

RUPALI VINOD RAMTEKE

Faculty of English

SECTION ‘C’  ‘C’  SEMESTER –  SEMESTER  –  I  I

ENGLISH PROJECT SUBMITTED ON: 01-09-2014

HIDAYATULLAH NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY, UPARWARA REGION, NEW RAIPUR

 

 

R a m t e k e  | 2

DECLARATION

I, Rupali Ramteke, hereby declare that, the project work entitled, “Peer Pressure” submitted to H.N.L.U, Raipur is record of an original work done by me under the able guidance of Mrs. Alka Mehta, Faculty Member, H.N.L.U., Raipur.

RUPALI VINOD RAMTEKE Roll No. 136 01/09/2014

 

R a m t e k e  | 3

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Thanks to the Almighty who gave me the strength to accomplish the project with sheer hard work and honesty. This research venture has been made possible due to the generous cooperation of various persons. To list them all is not practicable, even to repay them in words is  beyond the domain of my lexicon. May I observe the protocol to show my deep gratitude to the venerated Faculty-in-charge Mrs. Alka Mehta, for his kind gesture in allotting me such a wonderful and elucidating   research

topic.

RUPALI VINOD RAMTEKE

 

R a m t e k e  | 4

ABSTRACT The project basically revolves around pe peer er pressure and its effect, positive and negative, on the society. Its main aim is to classify and focus on the peer pressure, its types and how is it really affecting our society. so ciety. Peers play a large role in the social and emotional development of children and adolescents. Their influence begins at an early ea rly age and increases through the teenage years. It is natural, healthy and important for children ch ildren to hav havee and rely on friends as they the y grow and mature. Peers can be positive and supportive. They can help each other othe r develop new skills, or stimulate interest in books, music or extracurricular activities. However, peers can also have a negative ne gative influence. They can encourage each ea ch other to skip classes, steal, cheat, use drugs or alcohol, or become involve in other risky  behaviors. majority of teens with substance abuse problems begin using drugs or alcohol as The a result of peer pressure. Kids often give in to peer pressure because b ecause they want to fit in. They want to be liked and they worry that they may ma y be left out or made fun of if they don't go along alon g with the group.

 

R a m t e k e  | 5

TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages

 Declaration  Acknowledgements  Acknowledgeme nts  Abstract  Abstr act

1.  Introduction 1.1 In Youth 2. How Peer Pressure Works? 3. Types of Peer Pressure

..........3 ....... ...3

……….2 

..........4 ....... ...4

..........6 ...........7 .........7-8 ........ 9-11

3.1 Varieties of Peer pressure 3.1.1 Spoken Peer pressure 3.1.2 Unspoken Peer pressure p ressure 3.1.3 Negative Peer pressure 3.1.4 Positive Peer pressure 3.1.5 Adult Peer pressure 4. Positive and Negative Peer pressure

........11

5. Common Examples of Peer pressure

....13-16

6. How to prevent Peer pressure?

........16

7. Conclusion 8. References/Bibliography

 

R a m t e k e  | 6

“The strongest man in the world is he who stands alone.”  

-   Henrik Ibsen  Ibsen 

1.  INTRODUCTIONPeer pressure  is an influence when a peer group, or individual encourages another person to change their values values,, or  behaviors  behaviors   to suit other peoples convenience include membership groups, groups, in which individuals are "formally" members (such as political parties and trade unions), or social cliques in which membership is not clearly defined. They may also recognize dissociative dissociative groups  groups with  with which they would not  wish to associate, and thus they behave adversely, adv ersely, in ways concerning that group's behaviors.

Peer pressure is a powerful mental force that influences everyone, but tends to more strongly affect people in their teenage teen age years. It can be both good and bad depending on what they are being pressured to do. d o. Sports figures can be a  positive influence, as kids try to perfect their skills and abilities to be more like them. Characters in the movies however, tend to influence kids to follow their footsteps in an attempt to do the impossible. For a teenager, trying to fit in and be accepted is a big goal and they will often go to great extremes to be liked and  popular among their peers. Their thirst for positive or negative popularity and attention forcefully affects the actions of today's teens. "Peers become increasingly important during the teenage years (Horn & Keough p.42). Their "self-esteem "self-esteem””  is directly affected by the degree to which they feel accepted by the peer group-and conformity is the price that's paid to be accepted by the crowd (Panzarine p. 146). They become very influential in such things as dress, athletics, and conduct. Peer relationships are often not looked well upon because of the types of thing kids k ids to do to impress one another. When in fact, peer relationships help teenagers develop the social skills necessary for adult  functioning, are instrumental in facilitating an adolescent's sense of personal identity, and aid in their efforts to achieve independence and autonomy autonom y from their family (Horn & Keough p.42). The generalization however, that peer relationships are harmful does have truth to it. Peers can influence others to become rebellious and take risks. This often o ften leads to low self-esteem and self-destruction.

1.1 IN YOUTH- 

 

R a m t e k e  | 7

Peers become an important influence on behaviour during adolescence, and  peer pressure has been called a hallmark of an adolescent experience. Peer conformity in young people is most pronounced with respect to style, taste, appearance, ideology, and values. Peer pressure is commonly associated with episodes of adolescent risk taking (such as delinquency, drug abuse, sexual behaviours,   and reckless driving) because these activities commonly occur in the company of peers. Affiliation with friends who engage in risk behaviors has been shown to be a strong predictor of an adolescent's own behavior. Peer pressure can also have positive effects when youth are  pressured by their peers toward positive behaviour, such as volunteering for charity or excelling in academics. The importance of peers declines upon upo n entering adulthood. While socially accepted kids often have h ave the most opportunities and the most  positive experiences, research shows that being in the popular crowd may also be a risk factor for mild to moderate deviant behavior. Popular adolescents are the most socialized into their peer groups and thus are vulnerable to peer pressures, such as behaviour usually reserved reserved for those of a greater maturity and understanding. Socially accepted kids are often accepted for the sheer fact that they conform well to the norms of teen culture, good and bad aspects included. Popular adolescents are more strongly associated with their peer groups likes such as alcohol, tobacco and drugs. Some studies also show that many popular students also make lower grades than less socially accepted kids. This is possibly due to the fact that popular students may spend more time worrying about their social life rather than studying. Although there are a few risk factors correlated with  popularity, deviant behavior is often only mild to moderate. Regardless, social acceptance provides more overall protective protective factors than risk risk factor. factor. 

2.  HOW PEER PRESSURE WORKS? An explanation of how the peer pressure process works, called "the identity shift effect", is introduced by social psychologist, Wendy Trevnor, who weaves together Leon Festinger’s Festinger’s   two seminal social-psychological theories (on cognitive dissonance, which addresses internal internal conflict, and social comparison which addresses addresses external conflict) into a unified whole. According to Treynor's original "identity shift effect" hypothesis, the peer   pressure pressure process works in the following way: One's state of harmony is disrupted when faced with the threat of external conflict (social rejection) for   failing to conform  to  a group standard. Thus, one conforms to the group standard, but as soon as one does, eliminating this external conflict, internal

 

R a m t e k e  | 8

conflict is introduced (because one has violated one's own standards). To rid oneself of this internal conflict (self-rejection), an "identity shift" is undertaken, where one adopts the group's standards as one's own, thereby eliminating internal conflict (in addition to the formerly eliminated external conflict), returning one once again to a state of harmony. Even though tho ugh the peer pressure process begins and ends with one in a (conflict-less) state of harmony, h armony, as a result of conflict and the conflict resolution process, one leaves with a new identity — a new set of internalized standards.

The ugly ug ly rre eality ality i s that that pe peer pr essure ssur e r eaches ches its i ts gr eatest test iinte ntensi nsity ty at ju just st the ag e whe when n ki k i ds tend tend to to be be most i nsensi nsensiti tive ve and ccrr ue uel.l."" - W Walt alt Mue Mueller ller,, Pr eside sident, nt, CPY C PY U

Peers play a large role in the social and emotional development of children and adolescents. Their influence begins at an early age and increases through the teenage years. It is natural, healthy and important for children to have and rely on friends as they grow and mature. Peers can be positive and supportive. They can help each other develop new skills, or stimulate interest in books, music or extracurricular activities. However, peers can also have a negative influence. They can encourage each other to skip classes, steal, cheat, use drugs or alcohol, or become involve in other risky behaviors. The majority of teens with substance abuse problems began using drugs or alcohol as a result of 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.

3.  TYPES OF PEER PRESSUREPeer pressure is a part of a person's routine life. Commonly seen amongst teenagers, peer pressure can affect people's lives irrespective of their age o orr sex. The intensity of peer pressure generally varies with age and maturity.  Main reasons behind peer pressure  are  rising communication gap between parents and

 

R a m t e k e  | 9

children, intense desire to be  an acceptable member of a group and a highly impressionable mind that fails to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong. 

3.1 Varieties of Peer Pressure: 3.1.1 Spoken Peer Pressure- 

Here we see peers verbally influencing a teenager to behave the way they are  behaving. E.g: A peer might be seen saying to a teen, " Why are you wasting time studying Calculus? We still have a long time till the exams. Why don't you come out for a smoke with us? It will be more fun!" The teen who would have otherwise continued with his own way of o f life, listens to the peers and starts believing that the lifestyle led by his peers is more attractive. At times, he may see the downside of getting influenced by his peers, but his mind is set on becoming an acceptable member in his peer group, someone who would never be made fun of or teased. 3.1.2 Unspoken Peer Pressure-

Here we see teenagers getting influenced by their peers without any provoking verbal communication taking place between them. th em. If a teen routinely routinel y watches his  peers living a particular kind of lifestyle, his mind gets influenced and starts assuming that his peers are leading a better life than him and that there is nothing wrong in doing doin g something if everybody is doing it. Here, one's common sense and better judgment often goes for a toss. E.g: A teen may start substance abuse or smoking if he sees all his friends doing it fearlessly. 3.1.3 Negative Peer Pressure-

Teenagers' minds are like soft clay which assume the shape of most impressive  personality around them. The impression is often likely to to be negative in nature. Teens have been known to have chosen a wrong path of life by taking to substance abuse, excessive drinking and smoking, thieving and shoplifting, sho plifting, etc. Such situations often lead to a criminal record and loss of an opportunity for a bright academic career. A negative  peer pressure situation where peers are seen to 'dare' a teen to do something dangerous, often leads to death.

 

R a m t e k e  | 10

3.1.4 Positive Peer Pressure-

Peer pressure is not always negative. Sometimes, it inculcates new hobbies, hob bies, sporting spirit, health conscience or a tireless determination to succeed in life amongst teenagers. Positive peer pressure also can be seen in situations where a teen starts imbibing the qualities of a person he has never directly met such as from an idol wo worship. rship. 3.1.5 Adult Peer Pressure-

A subtype of peer pressure, it has been observed ob served amongst working professionals. An adult mind is not as easily impressionable as that of a teenager. However, adults are often seen turning to drinking or smoking habits after their peers suggest that tha t these are the best remedies to relieve oneself of personal and work related stress. Similarly, adults have  been known to turn corrupt after they have seen their seniors at work accept a bribe. Often, youngsters who start a new career make mistakes mi stakes of spending excessively on costly products like mobile phones or avail of a huge loan to buy a new vehicle because of spoken or unspoken peer pressure to be like their professional counterparts. At such times, one needs to think rationally and make a conscious choice between right and wrong. It is quite natural to feel materialistic. However, it is best to purchase assets after carefully planning your finances.  

4.  POSITIVE & NEGATIVE PEER PRESSURE-

Peer pressure is the phenomenon wherein we tend ten d to get influenced b by y the lifestyles and the ways of thinking of our peers. Peer Pe er pressure can prove beneficial but it is most often observed to have negative effects on society. What is negative peer pressure? What is  positive peer pressure? How do does it affect the teenagers? The thoughts, behavior and tastes of fashion, music, television and other walks of life of the masses are often seen having a deep impact on the living of the society. We tend to get influenced by the lifestyles of our peer group. The changing wa ways ys of life of our peers often force us to change our ou r ways of looking at life and leading it. It’s a human tendency to do what the crowd does. doe s. Few have the courage to resist the peer pressure and be their own selves rather than being one among the lot. Peer pressure is bound to affect most of us, both, positively and negatively. The distinction d istinction between positive and negative peer

 

R a m t e k e  | 11

 pressure lies in a thoughtful analysis of the views of the the masses. Following your peers  blindly leaves a negative impact on your life while an analytical approach of looking at  peer behavior can act positively. Let us look at the positive and negative effects of peer  pressure. 4.1 Negative Effects of Peer PressureWhen you do not like a particular idea or when you have no inclination towards a  particular field, it is obvious that you won't like like to go by it. For sure, you won't like to go that way. But it is you peer group, which may compel you on doing something you hate. In such cases, there are chances that you won't do well in those things. Things you do not enjoy doing cannot fetch you success. You cannot emerge successful in something you have never liked doing. So, So , it is important that you do not lose happiness of your life by succumbing to peer pressure. Many a time, it so happens, that we are forced to lead a certain kind of lifestyle due to  peer pressure. You may not like partying on every weekend, you may not like night outs with friends, you may hate drinking or smoking, but b ut peer pressure may make you do all that you had never wished to. There are many teenagers who experience great pressure from their peer group that forces them to take to drinking. You may take to something as grave as drug use, and that too, only because of peer pressure. In such cases, being overly  pressurized by you peers can be detrimental to your living. Some teenagers literally spoil spoil their lives by giving in to peer pressure. Peer pressure can lead to a loss of individuality. Extreme peer pressure may lead you to follow what your peers feel right. Their pressure may compel you to go by everything they think right. You tend to blindly b lindly imitate the masses; you adopt their tastes of fashion, clothing, hair, music and general living. Peer pressure p ressure can actually lead you to lose you tastes of life and force yourself to begin liking what they like. Peer pressure is the human tendency to join the bandwagon, bandwa gon, in which, the person loses h his/her is/her original way of looking at life. 4.2 Positive Effects of Peer PressurePeer pressure is not always bad. It can help you analyze yourself and contemplate on your ways of life. Some of the practices that the masses follow may actually teach you the way of living. You may be able to change yourself for the better. Looking at what others do, can help you bring about a positive change in your way of thinking. If you can pick selectively, peer pressure can actually result in a positive po sitive change in your way of life.

 

R a m t e k e  | 12

Knowing what the masses follow exposes you to the world outside your home. You understand the things going on around you. You are exposed to a wide variety in human  behavior. Exposure to peer pressure gives you an opportunity to think about their tastes and their outlooks towards life. It gives you a chance ch ance to choose the b best est from what the masses do. If you are fortunate to get a good peer group, your peers can play a vital role in the shaping of your personality. Their way of looking at life may influence you to change for  betterment. Some of your peers are your close friends, who do not pressurize you to do things but rather inspire you to change yourself. Your peer group may actually persuade you to bring about a constructive change in your personality. Peer pressure can lead you to make the right choices in life.

5.  COMMON EXAMPLES OF PEER PRESSURE-

Here Are Some Examples of both negative and postive peer pressure, its consequences and the effects it can have on teenagers. 5.1 Negative Peer PressureUnderage Drinking  –  The consequences to to underage drinking is getting aressted, aressted,

Having social problems, Long Term Effects on your brain, And Physical problems  because drinking alcohol can cause you to get sick such as Alcohol Poisoning and  potentialy dying from that. Underage Smoking  –  The consequences to underage Smoking is developing Heart

Disease, leukemia, and the most important one is The development of lung cancer. Pressure to Steal  –   The consequences to Stealing is Of course going to jail. And also

Stealing can change how people value you as a person. It can give people negative thoughts about you. And also this can go on your Permanent Record. Pressure to Fight/ Physically Harming Someone  –  The consequences to Fighting or

Physically Harming someone is this could lead to going to jail for assault, or Killing

 

R a m t e k e  | 13

someone Which could mean going jail for a very long time. And if you are pressured to fight someone at school that could lead to getting suspended. Pressure to have Sex  –  Having sex before you are ready to can lead to pregnancy and

S.T.D’s especially if you weren’t properly pre pared. Most importantly it can affect you emotionally. 5.2 Positive Peer PressurePressure to get into College  –  Getting pressured to get into college can have a positive

effect on you. It can encourage enco urage you to figure out what you want to do with your future, It can encourage you to get your grades up and make a plan for yourself. Pressure to come to School on time  –  Getting pressured to come to school on time can

teach you alot of values. Such as being on time in the future for jobs and stuff. Pressure to Join School Activities  –  Being Pressured to Join School Activities can be

 positive because it will teach you to become more social by making more friends. Also a lot of school activities looks good on college application. And Joining school activities keeps you out of trouble. Pressure to Follow the Rules  –  Being Pressured to follow the rules is positive because

Following the rules Keeps you out of trouble, It helps you keep your mind focused on the  positive things, and If you follow all the rules you will be rewarded rewarded later in life. ve ry far in life and this is Pressure To Respect Others  –  Respecting others can get you very  positive because if you respect others in return they will respect respect you. (“Treat others the way you want to be treated” ). Also If you have alot of respect for  others,  others, People will have a positive view of you.

 A Scholastic article says about it:

 

R a m t e k e  | 14

Peer Pressure: Its Influence on Teens and Decision Making Say you're sitting around with some friends playing video games mentions a particular game that happens to be one of your favorites. "Oh,and thatsomeone game's easy. So not worth the time," one of your friends says dismissively. The others agree. Inwardly, you know that it is a game you happen to enjoy quite a lot but, outwardly, not wanting to debate the issue, you go along with the crowd. You have just experienced what is commonly co mmonly referred to as peer pressure. It is  probably more accurate to refer to this as peer influence, or social influence to adopt a  particular type of behavior, dress, or attitude in order to be accepted as part of a group of your equals ("peers"). As a teen, it's likely you've experienced the effect of peer influence in a number of different areas, ranging from the clothes c lothes you wear to the music you listen to. Peer influence is not necessarily a bad thing. We are all influenced by our peers, p eers,  both negatively and positively, at any age. For teens, as school and other activities take you away from home, you may spend more time with your friends than you do with your  parents and siblings. As you become more independent, your peers naturally play a greater role in your life. Sometimes, though, particularly in emotional situations, peer influence can be hard to resist —   — it it really has become "pressure" — and and you may feel compelled to do something you're uncomfortable with.

What scientific research tells us about peer influence 

"There are two main features that seema to di stinguish distinguish teenagers from adults decision making," says Laurence Steinberg, researc researcher her at Temple University in in their Philadelphia. "During early adolescence in particular, teenagers are drawn d rawn to the immediate rewards of a potential choice and are less attentive to the possible risks. Second, teenagers in general are still learning to control their impulses, to think ahead, and to resist pressure from others." These skills develop gradually, as a teen's tee n's ability to control his or her behavior gets better throughout adolescence. According to Dr. B. J. Casey from the Weill Medical College C ollege of Cornell University, teens are very quick and accurate in making judgments and decisions on their own and in situations where they have time to think. However, when they have to make decisions in the heat of the moment or in social situations, their decisions are often influenced by external factors like peers. In a study stud y funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), teen volunteers played a video driving game, either alone or with

 

R a m t e k e  | 15

friends watching. What the researchers discovered was that the number of o f risks teens took in the driving game more than doubled when their friends were watching as compared to when the teens played the game alone. This outcome indicates that teens may find it more difficult to control impulsive or risky behaviors when their friends are around, or in situations that are emotionally charged.

The positive side 

While it can be hard for teens to resist peer influence sometimes, especially in the heat of the moment, it can also have a positive effect. Just as people can influence others to make negative choices, they can also influence them to make positive ones. A teen might join a volunteer project because all of his or her friends are doing it, or get g et good grades because the social group he or she belongs to thinks getting good grades is important. In fact, friends often encourage each other to study, try out for sports, or follow new artistic interests. In this way, peer influence can lead teens to engage in new activities that can help  build strong pathways in the brain. As described in the article  article "Teens and Decision Making: What Brain Science Reveals,"  Reveals,"  neural connections that are weak or seldom used are removed during adolescence through a process called synaptic pruning, allowing the  brain to redirect precious resources toward more active connections. This means that teens have the potential, through their choices and the behaviors they engage in, to shape their own brain development. Therefore, skill-building activities — such such as those physical, learning, and creative endeavors that teens are often encouraged to try through positive p ositive  peer influence — not not only provide stimulating challenges, but can simultaneously build strong pathways in the brain. While we are constantly influenced by those around us, ultimately the decision to act (or not to act) is up to us as individuals. So when it comes to decision making, the choice is up to you.

6.  HOW TO PREVENT PEER PRESSUREPeer pressure is not always a bad thing –  sometimes  sometimes your friends influence can be a good thing –  they might, for instance, stop you from doing doin g something stupid that you’ll you’ ll regret later. But if you’re doing/not doing something because you’re trying to fit in, but it’s not sitting well with you, then it’s not a positive thing.  thing.  

 

R a m t e k e  | 16

Some ways you can try and navigate peer pressure include:  



Value common interests. Try and hang out with people who do like doing similar stuff

to you. It sounds obvious, but you’re less likely to feel pressured to do things you don’t want to  



Say no. If you’re finding it hard to work up the guts to say no to something, you should

know that sticking up for what you believe in feels really good. If you can explain to  people in a calm way why something‘s not for you, more often than not, you’ll gain their respect.  



Try not to judge others. Respecting someone else’s choice may help them respect

yours. Peo ple don’t have to agree on everything, and understanding that’s ok will mean  both parties are likely to be less defensive about their choices. The following are some tips to help kids deal d eal with peer pressure: Stay away from peers who pressure you to do things that seem wrong or dangerous.   Learn how to say "no," and a nd practice how to avoid or get out of situations which feel unsafe or uncomfortable.   Spend time with other kids who resist peer pressure. It helps to have at least one friend who is also willing to say "no."   If you have problems with peer pressure, talk to a grown up you trust, like a parent, teacher or school counselor. Parents can also help by recognizing when wh en their child is having a problem with peer  pressure. The following are tips for parents to help your child deal with peer pressure: pressure:  









 



 



 



 



 



Encourage open and honest communication. Let kids know they can come to you if they're feeling pressure to do things that seem wrong or risky. Teach your child to be assertive and to resist getting involved in dan dangerous gerous or inappropriate situations or activities. Get to know your child's friends. If issues or problems arise, share your concerns with their parents. Help your child develop self-confidence. Kids who feel good about themselves are less vulnerable to peer pressure. Develop backup plans to help kids get out of uncomfortable or dangerous situations. For example, let them know you'll always come get them, no q questions uestions asked, if they feel worried or unsafe.

 

R a m t e k e  | 17

If your child has ongoing difficulties with peer pressure, talk to his or her teacher,  principal, school counselor or family doctor. If you have questions or concerns about your child's mood, self-esteem or behavior, consider a consultation con sultation with a trained and qualified mental health professional.

CONCLUSIONSome of best ways to reduce or get rid of peer pressure is to teach your children at a very young age, to make rational decisions on their own. When a person can identify the negative implications of getting influenced by his peers, only onl y then will he be able to  protect himself. Parents need to ensure that their children are made to feel special and unique. A child should be made to understand that his unique qualities make him the  person that he is and it is not required to behave like any of his peers. Parents may support new positive friendships and shield their children against negative ones. on es. Lastly,  bridging the communication gap between the parents and teenagers is the most effective tool against peer pressure. 

 

R a m t e k e  | 18

REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY-

www.google.com   www.google.com www.wikipedia.com   www.wikipedia.com www.aacap.org/aacap/Families_and.../Peer _ Pressure Pressure _104.aspx  _104.aspx   www.addictions.about.com www.addictions.abou t.com › About Health › Addictions › Addictive Behaviors www.kidshelp.com.au/teens/get-inf o/hot-topics/peer-pressure.php .php   www.kidshelp.com.au/teens/get-info/hot-topics/ http://www.buzzle.com/articles http://www.buzz le.com/articles/types-of-peer-p /types-of-peer-pressure.htm ressure.htmll 

 

R a m t e k e  | 19