Peer Pressure

Peers are people who you socialize with or that are similar to you in age, interests, or in some other way. Peers can include people you are friends with, go to school with, work with or meet at an event. Peer pressure is when you are influenced by other people (your peers) to act in a certain way. If you're with friends who are doing something that you typically would not do and they convince you to do what they are doing, that is an example of peer pressure. Let's take a look at just how influential peers can be in doing illegal drugs.

The way pressure is applied by peers can vary. A peer might pressure you directly by asking you to do something, or they might tease or coax you so that you will fall in line with their behavior. They may not say anything at all; instead, they may pressure you by treating you as an outcast or by ignoring you.

Wanting to feel part of something can put pressure on you to act in certain ways. If you’re doing something you wouldn’t normally do, or are not doing something you’d like to do, simply so that you’ll be accepted by the people you hang out with, you’re suffering from peer pressure.