Research project

1. Peer Pressure
too. Peers who are kind and loyal influence
Who are your peers? Peer influence isn’t bad you to build these qualities in yourself. Even
According to ‘Teens Health from Nemours’ when Teen years are the most difficult. You’re not just grow- peers you've never met can be role models!
you were a little kid, your parents usually chose ing up but your figuring out who you really are, what For example, watching someone your age
your good at, what you believe in, what your responsi- compete in the Olympics, give a piano con-
your friends, putting you in playgroups or arranging
bilities are, what your place is going to be in this world, cert, or spearhead a community project
playdates with certain children they knew and what your going to realize about yourself and life itself, might inspire you to go after a dream of your
liked. Now that you're older, and etc. According to ‘Teens Health own.
you decide who your friends from Nemours’ it’s comforting to face  Feedback and advice. Your friends listen
are and what groups you spend those challenges with friends who and give you feedback as you try out new
are into the same things that your ideas, explore belief, and discuss problems.
time with. Your friends — your
into. But you probably hear adults Peers can help you make decisions, too:
peers — are people your age talking about peer pressure rather what courses to take; whether to get your
or close to it who have experi- than the benefits of belonging to a hair cut, let it grow, or dye it; how to handle
ences and interests similar to peer group. You might not hear a lot a family argument. Peers often give each
yours. You and your friends about it, but peers have a profoundly other good advice. Your friends will be quick
positive influence on each other and play important to tell you when they think you're making a
make dozens of decisions every day, and you in-
roles in each other's lives: mistake or doing something risky.
fluence each other's choices and behaviors. This is  Socializing. Your peer group gives you opportuni-
often positive, it's human nature to listen to and ties to try out new social skills. Getting to know lots
Pressure Pointers
learn from other people in your age group. As you of different people such as, classmates or team- According to ‘Teens Health from Nemours’
mates give you a chance to learn how to expand nearly everyone ends up in a sticky peer
become more independent, your peers naturally
your circle of friends, build relationships, and work pressure situation
play a greater role in your life. As school and other at some point. No
out differences. You may have peers you agree or
activities take you away from home, you may disagree with, compete with, or team with, peers matter how wisely
spend more time with peers than you do with your you admire and peers you don't want to be like. you choose your
parents and siblings. You'll probably develop close  Friendship. Among peers you can find friendships friends, or how
friendships with some of your peers, and you may and acceptance, and share experiences that can well you think you
build lasting bonds. know them, sooner
feel so connected to them that they are like an
 Encouragement. Peers encourage you to work hard to or later you'll have
extended family. Besides close friends, your peers
get the solo in the concert, help you study, listen and to make decisions
include other kids you know who are the same age support you when you're upset or troubled, and empa- that are difficult
like people in your community. These peers also thize with you when they’ve experienced similar difficul- and could be un-
influence you by the way they dress and act, ties. popular. It may be something as simple as
things they're involved in, and the attitudes they  New experiences. Your peers might get you in- resisting the pressure to spend your hard-
volved in clubs, sports, or religious groups. Your earned babysitting money on the latest MP3
show. It's natural for people to identify with
world would be far less rich without peers to en- player that "everybody" has. Or it may mean
and compare themselves to their peers as they courage you try sushi for the first time, listen to a deciding to take a stand that makes you look
consider how they wish to be (or think they should CD you've never heard before, or to offer moral sup-
un-cool to your group. There's no magic to
be), or what they want to achieve. People are influ- port when you audition for the school play.
standing up to peer pressure, but it does take
enced by peers because they want to fit in, be like  Positive examples. Peers set plenty of good exam- courage and that’s you. Consider yourself a
ples for each other. Having peers who are commit- leader, and know that you have the potential to
peers they admire, do what others are doing, or
ted to doing well in school or to doing their best in a make a difference.
have what others have. sport can influence you to be more goal-oriented,