Essay – Peer Pressure

Adolescence is known as the period of the lifespan where our role models change.
Instead of being parents who have the main impact in their children lives, friends take
the lead of who influence more in adolescent’s decisions. The aim of this essay is to
state which factors make young people more vulnerable to other’s influence and how
can we tackle the problem.

In psychology is widely claimed that our personality is still developing while we are in
high school. As a result, it is highly likely that teenagers are not as assertive as they are
in their adult age. In addition, it is well-known fact that human being is a social animal.
Therefore, it exists a need of belonging to a group that, due to the fact of biological
and social factors, is bigger in adolescence. Moreover, since we are young, we have not
lived enough experiences to perfect social strategies, what make us more vulnerable.

Contrary to common belief, being influenced by peers is natural and part of the
process. However, it becomes a problem when the negative pressure results in
problems with drugs, police, etc. One way to minimize the risk of peer pressure having
a devastating effect on someone’s life is to teach in high school social skills, in which
assertiveness is included. Furthermore, communicating with an adult with who they
have confidence in order to ask for advice will be another effective proposal. Finally,
information about drugs, sex and every other topic that might affect the young.
Consequently, whenever they have to make decisions, they will have reliable
knowledge.

All in all, teenagers are meant to make mistakes. In fact, we learn through trial and
error. That being said, it is the duty of family and high school to give them enough
strategies to set their own limits regarding their group of friends. Indeed, if we work
these skills in adolescent, in adulthood we will be more emotionally stable.

Laura Redondo Fidalgo