6 Tips To Deal With Different Types Of Teen Peer Pressure

Fortunately, social media can also promote positive peer pressure through groups that support charitable causes or pages that highlight inspirational stories. Access to social media also allows us to stay connected to far away family and friends in ways that were not possible before. Give them the information they need Never assume a young person knows everything they need to about risky behaviors, such as drugs, alcohol or unprotected sex.

Let them know that they cannot please everyone, and that is okay. When to take your child to an urgent care vs. the emergency room. Reflect on your inherent core values, and think about what you want for yourself in the future based on them. Use the delay tactic Rather than answer immediately, say you’re going to think something over first. That time buffer makes your eventual “no” less of a surprise. You’ve just pledged to the most popular fraternity on campus.

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That’s because, in attempting to fit in with peers, teens want to please. They don’t want to say no for fear of alienating themselves. Many people think peer pressure is about one forceful teen demanding that another, “Try this…or I’m not hanging out with you.” It is actually far more subtle. It’s more like a dance where everyone tries different moves to look like they know what steps to take. People make choices and engage in behaviors because they think it’s how they’ll fit in. And, the people suggesting the behaviors often do it to show they are the trendsetters.

For instance, a teenager might influence their friend to smoke a cigarette by saying, “Come on, one cigarette won’t hurt.” 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. Instead of simply saying no, consider offering up an alternative activity you can all do instead. “Why don’t we go to the park and ride skateboards,” or “Let’s hit the mall,” can turn your entire group around from a potentially dangerous behavior. At the very least, it will give you an out, and possibly one or two of your other friends that feel equally uncomfortable with the situation.

Types of peer pressure

Give them time to consider your sample situations and ask them how they would respond. It’s common for teens to talk less to parents and more with friends.

Rather, make sure they are well-informed by talking to them about it. They might not like the conversation, but giving them the knowledge they need to make good decisions far outweighs a few minutes of discomfort. Caring parents want to ensure their child is happy, healthy and confident.

Impact of Peer Pressure

Share your own experiences of peer pressure as appropriate and ways you’ve handled them. The way a student perceives their https://ecosoberhouse.com/ friends’ sexual activity and attitudes toward sex has a strong influence on how they view their own sexual choices.

For parents, you must speak with your children about the harm that can come with groups of friends that have bad intentions. Provide support to your kids and ask questions about how they’re feeling with the group they interact with regularly. Your friends can also influence you in good ways, so it’s essential to surround yourself with people who support your goals and encourage you to make healthy decisions. Teenage years are the time when children make most of their friends. They have fun with them, they confide in them and they get influenced by them. But with the friendship and social circle comes peer pressure.

How to Handle Adult Peer Pressure

We want our children to have meaningful and healthy relationships both in personal and work settings throughout their lives. We prepare them for this when we are loving, supportive and have open communication in our homes. But adolescence is when our teens expand their relationships beyond our homes. And this is a critical developmental step towards how to deal with peer pressure becoming an independent adult. As teens navigate peer culture, parents play an important role in preparing them with the social skills needed to make their own smart choices and avoid peer pressure. Facing peer pressure is a good time for teens to learn how to have firm boundaries. However, they will tend to learn firm boundaries from their parents.

As teens and young adults, our classmates, coworkers and even family members can be our peers. If your teens don’t have quite enough confidence to walk away on their own, encourage them to look for a like-minded peer or friend who feels the same way they do in a particular situation. It’s essential to understand most peer pressure isn’t like it looks in movies or TV shows. These shows suggest peers telling innocent teens, “Do this if you want to be one of us,” or “If you don’t do this, you’re a loser.” In the real world, peer pressure may be much more subtle. It is driven by a desire to feel “normal,” a need that heightens during adolescence. For this reason, we prepare our children to navigate teen culture when we help them clarify values and think through what they want for themselves. Parents can support teens to follow their own thoughts and feelings and still feel like they are fitting in.