Peer Pressure Research

It is important for parents to understand that peer pressure does not always bring negative effects because in some cases it has positive impacts on the teens. It depends on the type of group a teen is associated with and the values held by the majority members of such a group. Peer pressure is a powerful and essential tool that can be used to a great benefit on the teens. There is a conception that peer pressure usually has a negative impact on peers, but in reality, it can be a positive influence as well with the possibility of happening to children of different ages. All this depends on the type of individuals they are closely associated with. (1060) pointed out that parental monitoring had a positive direct influence on adolescents because those teens poorly monitored were more likely to be more involved in drug and substance abuse.

It is therefore important for both the parents and the community to put significant effort in monitoring the teens and encourage them to abstain from drug abuse and premature sexual activities. Kandel and Lazear (801) argue that peer pressure drives into important agreements and motivation. Some of the successful business partnerships can trace their roots from peer pressure. Right from lower elementary level schools to higher education, many youths are motivated to perform better by their most competitive peers. This occurs when a teen begins doing weird things so as to fit in a certain group, including spoilt teens. Most teens who are trying to please these bad groups will start smoking, drinking alcohol, involving themselves in irresponsible sex activities, and eventually become rebels to the authorities.

It is therefore important for teens to choose right friends and learn to say no to these awful behaviors. The social identity theory explains why a large number of youths, especially those in colleges, are victims of peer pressure (Trepte & Sabine 271). This theory suggests that the largest part of an individual’s self-concept is developed in peer groups because in-groups are regarded as more appealing than the out-groups. Large number of young people engages in drug abuse due to stress, and thus they need to be part of the group that is stress-free. Protecting these teens against inappropriate influences is important, and encouraging them to build positive self-esteem is necessary. Those teens with the ability to build a positive self-esteem make good decisions and shun away from negative influences.

Parents and other people in the leadership positions should establish resistance norms which will help the teens and teach them the tactics of saying no to an invitation to abuse drugs (Hansen et al. Conclusion Human beings are social creatures who under normal circumstances want to belong to certain social groups of those individuals they feel are of the same goals, age, and characters. " Child development 64. Steinberg, Laurence, Anne Fletcher, and Nancy Darling. "Parental monitoring and peer influences on adolescent substance use. " Pediatrics 93. Brittain, Clay V. " Online Publication of Undergraduate Studies, New York University. Accessed on February 24 (2011): 2014. Smith, Lisa K. Carden, and Susan A. Fowler. Carey. "Two brief alcohol interventions for mandated college students. " Psychology of Addictive behaviors 19. Scott, Elizabeth S.