Preview

Effects of Peer Pressure on Decision Making

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
325 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Effects of Peer Pressure on Decision Making
EFFECTS OF PEER PRESSURE ON DECISION MAKING

Amanda M Romero
Learning Across the Lifespan

Abstract

Our Peer-to-Peer interaction affects us every day. From decisions, we make, to the places we go. It is human nature to listen and learn from other people. Though we would like to think we have control over outside influences, studies show that our surroundings play a key role in how we function. Solomon Asch’s (1950) social experiment demonstrated, consumers often modify their responses, consciously or subconsciously, when surrounded by others with conflicting opinions. Peer Pressure is only rising in today’s society; it can’t be escaped!

Our teenagers are the most influenced by peer pressure. Peers influence people because they want to fit in, be like peers they admire, do what others are doing, Its only natural for people to identify with and compare themselves to their peers as they consider how they wish to be (or think they should be), or what they want to achieve.

. Peer Pressure is essential to social development. Its can't be escaped! In turn peer pressure can develop a good character, if its learned to be worked the right way.

There are 3 main goals that individuals have in the long term: •Accuracy – in that individuals seek practical, consistent actions that are reproducible, through the information they already have and the actions that they do. Think of it as a need to achieve goals effectively and with the greatest perceived reward. •Affiliation – in that individuals seek gratification that their actions ingratiate them with other individuals. Think of it as a need to create social relationships with others in a meaningful, maintainable manner. •Maintenance of a Positive Self-Impression – in that people have a constant want to increase their own self-awareness so that they can feel better about themselves. Think of it as a need to behave in a manner that boosts their pre-existing self image – through action, statement, belief

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Violence In Middle School

    • 1400 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Everyone knows about the negative affects of peer pressure. However, peer pressure can be positive; it is also not as scary as some may believe. "Studies show that, almost always, peer influence is weaker than adults believe" (Black, 2002). Adults tend to underestimate middle school children and their ability to make decisions on their own. When a child commits a wrongdoing, parents automatically want to blame peer influence. Yet research has shown that young adolescents are not necessarily drawn into certain behaviors by peer pressure, rather they decide to be more like their peers on their…

    • 1400 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Have you ever been pressured into doing something you did not want to do? This is peer pressure which is a strong social influence over peers that each member attempts to conform to the expectations of the group (dictionary.com). In peer pressure, there are usually consequences that could be destructive for the pressured individual (Kreske, 2008). It is very common for children to experience peer pressure during youth even in adulthood. There are some pressures that could be detrimental to their well being. I will argue that peer pressure is extremely detrimental that it can lead to putting their self and health at risk, put the person in severe situations that could make them feel as if they have to fit in and belonged or to be liked, and can lead to bad decisions which can result in life-changing consequences.…

    • 1843 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Development Worksheet

    • 821 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Peer pressure is all around us, and peer pressure is an issue we will have to deal with throughout…

    • 821 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Conformity and social influence is something that happens all over the world. People conform for all types of reasons, ranging from religion to the color or style of someone else’s hair. Social influence also plays a big part in conformity. Being socially influenced to wear a certain type of clothing can cause people to conform and completely change how they think or act. In this essay I will talk about social influences, conformity, and the ways that they can cause behavioral changes.…

    • 771 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shooting an Elephant

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Have you ever been influenced by others to do something you do not want to do? A lot of people have, including George Orwell in his essay Shooting an Elephant. Being influenced by others, also known as peer pressure is a thing that happens every day, not only in high schools like most people think but outside of schools and in the real world. In Orwell’s essay he did something because he did not want the people of the town to think poorly of him. There have been many moments in my life where I only did something to avoid looking a fool.…

    • 842 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In a society where each individual is held up against unrealistic expectations it is undeniable that people often compromise themselves to fit into the social norms of society. Social roles and social norms are the root in which much of social influence takes place. Social influence is the act by which an individual's emotions, attitudes, and behaviors are altered when interacting with another individual or a group who are perceived to be similar or desirable. Social influence dictates many areas of our lives and various greatly from one culture to another.…

    • 1069 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first contributing factor to a preteen’s social conformity falls under the obvious fact that peer pressure is the driving…

    • 349 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    There are many problems regarding peer pressure. Cigarette smoking and drugs are overcrowding and taking over the once pure world. Our friends influence us greatly, and they are reason why we act or dress the way we do. Almost all teenage smokers and drug abusers began through the influence of a peer, and the fear of looking like a coward…

    • 304 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Social influence aims at developing pro-norm behavior by the distribution of social rewards or punishments. Particularly, social influence involves “connecting interests, attitudes and beliefs in one ‘attitude system’ to those in some other attitude system”.…

    • 293 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    - Peer pressure influences young people in a lot of different ways including fashion choice, alcohol and drug use and academic performance. Young people, when with their peers, are more likely to take risks to seem impressive or ‘cool’.…

    • 492 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Pressure from a teen’s peers will guide the actions an adolescent performs. Whether or not the adolescent decides to subdue to this pressure will shape their identity and personality. Once considered to be the “I wasn’t thinking” response to actions involving peer pressure actually is a phenomenon common among the adolescent brain (Dreifus). In the presence of their friends teens are actually twice as likely to take part in risks they know to be inexcusable behavior. “Having friends nearby doubles the number of risks they take… certain part of the brain is activated by the presence of peers in adolescents, but not in adults.” (Dreifus). Peer pressure will dictate many of the teenager’s actions differently than someone who doesn’t comply with these pressures.…

    • 386 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    More specifically, compliance and conformity. According to Cialdini and Goldstein (2004), conformity refers to a particular kind of response to a particular kind of communicaton; a request. On the other hand, conformity refers to the act of changing one’s behaviors to match the responses of others (Cialdini and Goldstein, 2004). Cialdini and Goldstein (2004), emphasize accuracy, affiliation, and the maintenance of positive self-concept as three core motivators that influence individuals in different situation. For simplicity and clarity, Cialdini and Goldstein (2004), associate each social influence – related phenomena with the goal that appeared to be the principle driving force underlying the occurrence of the phenomenon. While Cialdini and Goldstein do this for their research purposes, it should be noted that individual’s behaviors often serve multiple…

    • 1258 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Whether teenagers realize it or not, they are pressured by their peers into doing something every day, whether it be positive or negative. When people typically think of peer pressure, they think of giving in to doing drugs or alcohol, or having sex. But, peer pressure isn’t always negative such as someone trying to convince their friend to go out for basketball with them because it will be fun or trying to convince a friend to join Art Club.…

    • 735 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many kids get peer pressure either because that’s the only choice they have , like in a party they don’t want to feel like a loser or a outcast or because they started hanging out with different people and they happened to do drugs . People are influenced by peers because they want to fit in, be like peers they admire, do what others are doing, or have what others have. Also influence by the way they dress and act, things they're involved in, and the attitudes they show.…

    • 1974 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    obstacles to graduate

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Peer pressure is a big part of teenagers’ lives. There are two types of peer pressure, minor and adult peer pressure. Minor peer pressure happens during a teenager’s high school years. These pressures are little; however, the students are still being protected by their parent. Once parents get in the situation, the student, most of the time, chooses the right thing to do. Adult peer pressure start at the age eighteen. This is the time when the student is leaving for college. Once in college, students do not have their parents breathing down their backs all of the time. This is when they have to make the right decisions on their own based on what their parents taught them. Making the right decision can be a challenge sometimes when everyone else is pushing you to do something wrong. By making the right decisions and avoiding peer pressure, all students would be able to succeed.…

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays