Understanding and Coping with Different Forms of Peer Pressure

1. “No child is immune to peer pressure.” KATHI HUDSON Raising Kids God's Way Understanding and Coping with Different Forms of Peer Pressure Abdullah Abdul-Hakeem

2. Defining Peer Pressure • Peer pressure- social pressure by members of one's peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted.

3. 3 Common Forms of Peer Pressure • Pressure to do well in school/Academic Pressure • Pressure to look good. • Pressure to drink or smoke

4. Pressure to do well in school/Academic Pressure • Anxiety a student develops through working to meet the needs of family or friend expectations. • Stress receives by working to over exceed • "My Parents didn't graduate from college so I feel pressured to do the very best that I can so that I can get into a good college.’ • “Nearly 80% of teenagers surveyed by the Horatio Alger Association said that the pressure to get good grades is a problem for them. Thirty-eight percent said that getting good grades is the biggest stress in their life”(State of Our Youth Report,2008)

5. Dealing with Peer Pressure to do well in school • Sit with parents and explain to them how riding your shoulders is counter-productive. • Let them know that you’re trying your hardest. • Share your interest with your parents. Perhaps English isn’t your strong point, or maybe becoming a doctor isn’t the only career you wish to explore. • Let parents and friend know how they can be helpful. (understanding self interest, giving space)

6. Pressure to look good • Anxiety and stress receive from working to achieve what is considered socially accepted as beautiful faces which have been rated as highly attractive do not exist in reality…Faces with such a smooth, pure skin, without any irregularities do not and cannot exist.

7. Dealing with pressure to look good. • Knowledge- Exploring different concepts of beauty allow a student to define beauty from many perspectives, thus enabling the student to be confident with self. • Talk to someone- Speaking with a friend about peer pressure can be helpful by presenting options on dealing with the issue. The measure also acts as an outlet for gaining social support. • Re-examine self- explore your interested and see what you like about yourself before succumbing to peer pressure.

8. Pressure to drink or smoke • Stress and anxiety received from peer to drink alcohol or do drugs. • This Form of peer pressure presents itself more visibly than the other forms, making it more difficult to cope with.

9. Dealing with Pressure to drink or smoke • Courage to say no- Being the only one amongst peers to say no drugs can be difficult. You run the risk of being ostracized and teased. But Mustering the courage to defy peer pressure builds inner strength and self confidence • Show me Your Friends and I’ll show you your future • Surround yourself with positive people who share the same values as you. Its easier to combat peer pressure when you do it with the support of a friend.

10. “The stress of resisting unhealthy peer pressure can be buffered by good family relationships and a high self-esteem, and it is often those adolescents with neither who succomb to unhealthy pressure from their peers.” L. EUGENE ARNOLD, Childhood Stress

11. (www.beautycheck.de, 2009.Gruendl) • (State of Our Youth Report. (2008). Hratio Alger association)