Peer Pressure is Good — But your peers should not be stupid

It’s normal for young people to worry about fitting in. Peer groups play an important role in young people’s lives, particularly during adolescence. Peer pressure refers to the influence that these groups can have on how an individual thinks and acts. You can often find out who your child’s peers are by paying attention to who they socialise with and speak about. Supporting your child to recognise teen peer pressure, when it helps and hinders them, and how they can develop their own individuality, is an important role for parents.

This can help if:

- Your child is acting out of character

- Your child is constantly worried about ‘missing out’ or not fitting in

- You’re concerned about the influence of your child’s friends

• Your child tends to always copy others and be a bit of a follower or easily influenced.

We all want our children to be a good influence on others. By learning how to encourage positive peer pressure, you can help your child identify when they can be a force for good in their social group. Your teenager can be a positive peer influence on their friends, and you can help.Positive peer pressure is when someone’s peers influence them to do something positive or growth building. For example, peers who are committed to doing well in school or at sport can influence others to be more goal orientated. Similarly, peers who are kind, loyal or supportive influence others to be the same.

Advice from a peer is often more influential to a teenager than advice from an adult. Equip your child (or theirfriends) with the tools to be a good influence, because they can impact the choices friends make more than any adult can sometimes.

How Peer Pressure works

A young person can experience peer pressure in varying degrees. Sometimes their peers may proactively influence them to behave in certain ways and at other times they may be just following along. Both of these situations are based on seeking approval, but it is also possible for peer pressure to be a result of bullying. This is when your child fears being teased or physically hurt for not conforming.

Unlike adults, who will generally act similarly whether alone or in a group, teenagers are more susceptible to the influence of a crowd or their friends. While they are learning about their social place and their identity, they are subconsciously looking to their friends for information about how to act and interact with others.

The teenage brain is hypersensitive to the opinions of others and their place in the social group. Areas of the brain associated with reward are more active when they are with peers, giving them a lot of positive feedback when they are being observed or interacting with others. For the same reason, they also learn more quickly in the presence of their peers.

Knowing this, your child can use it to their advantage. The same way you model behaviour you want your child to adopt, ask your child to model the behaviour they want to see from their friends and peers.

Types of Peer Pressure:

NEGATIVE:If it pushes to do the wrong things, and is often dangerous.

POSITIVE:If it pushes to do the right things, and is often good.

Negative effects of peer pressure include:

- Pressure to use alcohol, cigarettes or drugs

- Pressure to engage in risk taking behaviours

- Distance from schoolwork

- Distance between family and existing friends

• Drastic changes in behaviour and attitudes.

Positive effects of peer pressure include:

- A sense of belonging and support

- Increased self-confidence

- Introduction to positive hobbies and interests

• Reinforcement of positive habits and attitudes

Too often, we assume peer influence is harmful. We tend to associate peer pressure with one forceful teen pushing another into doing something negative. But there are plenty of positive ways peers influence their teen counterparts.

1) Inspiring Positive Choices

2) Picking Up Healthy Habits

3) Sharing New Experiences

4) Offering Moral Support

We need to remember it’s important to encourage positive friendships and connections.