How does peer group influence lead to drug abuse?
Beyond prompting kids to use drugs, peer pressure or the desire to impress their peers can override a teen or tween’s fear of taking risks, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Kids. 1 This risky behavior with drugs and/or alcohol can result in the following: Accidents. Addiction.
What role does peer pressure have in addiction?
Results from multiple studies confirm the idea that peer pressure can sway people into doing or participating in something they normally wouldn’t. Whether its drug use or exercise, peer pressure encourages people to alter their behaviors.
How important do you think peer influence is to a person’s substance use?
Peers can influence their friends in supportive or destructive ways when it comes to drug use. In various circumstances, social pressure can be applied that may prevent people from using certain types of drugs, persuade them to not use any drugs at all, or encourage them to misuse all kinds of drugs.
How do drugs deal with peer pressure?
What strategies can help handle negative peer pressure?
- Pay attention to how you feel.
- Plan ahead.
- Talk to the person who is pressuring, let him or her know how it makes you feel and tell the person stop.
- Have a secret code to communicate with parents.
- Give an excuse.
- Have friends with similar values and beliefs.
How strong the influence of peer pressure is?
The pressure to conform (to do what others are doing) can be powerful and hard to resist. A person might feel pressure to do something just because others are doing it (or say they are). Peer pressure can influence a person to do something that is relatively harmless — or something that has more serious consequences.
Why does peer pressure affect us?
Peer pressure might encourage teens to become more active in athletics or to avoid risky behaviors. Or it could lead them to try alcohol or drugs, skip school or engage in other negative behaviors. “Teens have extra unconnected synapses in the area where risk-assessment occurs and this gets in the way of judgement.
How peer influence contribute to your decision making?
While it can be hard for teens to resist peer influence sometimes, especially in the heat of the moment, it can also have a positive effect. Just as people can influence others to make negative choices, they can also influence them to make positive ones. So when it comes to decision making, the choice is up to you.
What is negative peer influence?
Negative peer pressure, on the other hand, involves pressure to do something dangerous or damaging to themselves or others. Here some examples of negative peer pressure: Convincing a friend to skip school. Pushing someone to buy e-cigarettes online. Pressuring a friend to drink or try drugs.
Is peer influence good or bad?
Peer pressure is not always a bad thing. For example, positive peer pressure can be used to pressure bullies into acting better toward other kids. If enough kids get together, peers can pressure each other into doing what’s right!
What is the meaning of peer influence?
Peer influence is when you choose to do something you wouldn’t otherwise do, because you want to feel accepted and valued by your friends. It isn’t just or always about doing something against your will. You might hear the term ‘peer pressure’ used a lot.
What are some positive ways peers can influence your life?
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.
Does peer pressure influence your risk taking behavior?
Research suggests that peer influence is one of the primary contextual factors contributing to adolescent risky behavior. Peer presence alone — even being observed from a separate room by an anonymous peer — predicts higher levels of risk taking (Gardner & Steinberg, 2005).
At what age does peer influence peak?
Peer influence during adolescence is normal and tends to peak around age 15, then decline. Teens get better at setting boundaries with peers by age 18 according to Laurence Steinberg, a psychology professor at Temple University.
How can peer pressure cause bad decisions?
But it can also lead to dangerous decisions—such as using alcohol or drugs, or getting into other high-risk situations. One way to understand how peer influence can lead teens to make poor decisions is to look at teens and driving. But when their friends were with them, teens took more risks and ran more yellow lights.
Why is peer pressure important?
Peer Pressure. Peers play a large role in the social and emotional development of children and adolescents. It is natural, healthy and important for children to have and rely on friends as they grow and mature. Peers can be positive and supportive.