Examples of negative peer pressure include trying to talk someone into trying drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, and sex. Access to professional counseling is crucial for those struggling with the effects of peer pressure on their mental health. Counseling allows individuals to explore their feelings and develop coping strategies in a safe environment. Immigrant communities may experience unique peer pressure dynamics that impact mental health. These which of the following is a type of indirect peer pressure? individuals often navigate cultural expectations while integrating into new societies. This can lead to additional stressors such as family expectations, language barriers, and acceptance within peer groups.
How to Handle Peer Pressure Related to Alcohol Use
Of course, you probably wish all pressure from peers was positive, but the reality is that it’s not as common as the negative form. Gabrielle is an experienced freelance writer and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with experience using equine-assisted therapy. Teens with high self-esteem accepts themselves and the way they are, as well as respect themselves. Building good self-esteem will help them stay away from groups with negative influences. Give us a call and we can help find the right treatment program https://ecosoberhouse.com/ for you or your loved one – even if it’s not ours! For instance, a group of young people daring a peer to take illicit drugs or pull a dangerous prank with criminal liability consequences in public.
Fostering a Culture of Acceptance
Peer pressure is a powerful force that can influence individuals’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. So, friends motivate someone struggling with their mental health issues by suggesting they seek professional help to not struggle alone, thereby offering tangible emotional support. This type of peer pressure involves explicit communication from a person or group trying to convince another person to engage in a specific behavior or activity (The Severson Sisters, 2015). Simply, peer pressure happens when individuals conform to societal expectations within their social group while seeking validation from others. When people are influenced by those around them who share similar characteristics, such as age group or background, it can be referred to as peer pressure.
The Impact on Mental Health
Cyber peer pressure is any peer pressure that comes from online influences, such as social media and other peers online. This can include cyberbullying, online shaming, or promoting negative behaviors like substance abuse. For example, a teen might feel pressured to take part in a prank online, like sending a nude picture to someone they like or commenting on another person’s posts to bully them. She is a trauma-informed clinician who prioritizes the relationship between clinician and client. Addiction impacted her own family and influenced her compassionate and empathetic relationship with clients.
- This can pressure young individuals to change different aspects of their identity to conform to what everybody else is doing.
- Most of the time, teens may feel pressured to take part in such activities, even if their conscience tells them not to.
- We can also offer support to family members who are struggling with the issues that surround addiction.
- Very often, the drive to engage in this kind of behavior is a result of peer pressure.
Engaging with these support systems can Halfway house help individuals feel less isolated and more empowered to deal with peer pressure effectively. Educators can also provide students with opportunities to practice their communication skills in situations where they may need to resist peer pressure. Role-playing and using real-life scenarios can help significantly.
Karlie says the best advice ever received is to not fall in love with potential. Peer pressure can manifest as direct requests or indirect influence. It can be obvious (e.g., being asked to join in on something) or subtle (e.g., feeling pressured to conform to a group’s behavior). Understanding the underlying factors driving peer pressure can help recognize potentially negative situations while reinforcing positive behavior patterns amongst peers. So, a teenager may begin smoking cigarettes despite knowing the health risks because her friends smoke socially, and she wants to fit in.
Kathleen has more than 15 years of experience treating people who have a substance use disorder. Positive peer pressure can encourage healthy habits and personal development, while negative peer pressure can lead to poor choices or risky behavior. Peer pressure can result in both positive and negative consequences. From engaging in risky behaviors to increasing confidence, understanding the effects of peer pressure can help you decide how to best respond to it.
- Create a safe space where students can talk about the pressures they may be facing, such as the pressure to conform, and then discuss practical ways to manage this pressure.
- Types of peer pressure can greatly affect how we decide on all sorts of things, from what to wear, who to date, and even what to eat, drink, or smoke.
- She typically works with people interested in taking a holistic approach to treating their addictions.
- Spoken peer pressure is when a teenager asks, suggests, persuades or otherwise directs another to engage in a specific behavior.
Peer pressure is the influence, whether direct or indirect, that is placed on individuals within the same social group that impacts their behavior. This can affect all sorts of different groups, but perhaps some of the most susceptible to peer pressure are the groups formed in adolescence. In other words, peer pressure influences people to do certain things and behave in certain ways that they might not usually do.
- Outside of her professional endeavors, Megan finds joy in the company of her partner and pets.
- Professional help can guide individuals in addressing their mental health challenges and building resilience against peer pressure.
- It can be spoken or unspoken and often involves forcing a person to take action.
- Christy Schuett, originally from Aberdeen, South Dakota, holds a master’s degree in counseling from Northern State University.
- If, however, the spoken influence takes place within a group, the pressure to go along with the group is immense.
- This support can come from various sources, including friends, family, and professionals.
While peer pressure can lead to positive behaviors, it can also influence you to engage in harmful behaviors like excessive drinking or drug use. Learning to stand up to peer pressure can protect you from its potent effects. Kathleen was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, but spent half of her life in California. She holds a master’s in clinical psychology with an emphasis on marriage and family therapy. Additionally, she has a master’s in holistic wellness and is trained in EMDR therapy for both in-person and virtual settings.