How Do You Define Peer Pressure And Why Is It Dangerous?

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Lawler White, Contributor

Peer pressure plays a large role in the social and emotional development of children and adolescents. It has been known to shape children’s actions in their lives in potentially harmful ways. In today’s society negative peer pressure has had detrimental effects on teenager’s mental health. It can decrease self-confidence and lead to poor academic performance, distancing from family members and friends, or an increase in depression and anxiety. If peer pressure is left untreated it could potentially cause teens to engage in self-harm or have suicidal thoughts. Ways that society can help prevent peer pressure is by getting support groups. Being involved in a small group of friends, family, or trusted adults is one of the best ways to help prevent peer pressure. If a person is struggling with peer pressure they can go to this group and use them as a back bone. They are there to listen to the person and help them come up with ideas to stand against the peer pressure they are facing. Some ideas that are common when facing peer pressure are saying no, making up excuses to get out of bad situations, and finally having friends that share the same ideals as you. In order to protect the social and emotional development of children and adolescents, society needs to make battling against peer pressure one of its top priorities.