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This post is an entry for the ProWritersHub contest.

Introduction

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One thing that is very common in humanity is socialization. It is a law of nature because humans depends on other human for survival.

It is this socialization that brings about social grouping like having similar interests, belonging to the same social status, and gaining similar experiences. It is what we have to do as we journey through life.

By being in such peer groups, it becomes certain that there would be some members who have the power to influence a person's belief, value, and behavior.

What is Peer Pressure

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The process where individuals in the same group influences others of the same group to engage in a certain kind of activity that they may not have otherwise thought to engage in.

It involves communicating messages, but the way in which the message are communicated and received can vary. The result being experiencing very direct and clear peer pressure, sometimes it may be just a strong feeling, other times it can appear as fun, yet at other times it can look so scary and even illegal.

You have to think about your actions if you want to avoid peer pressure, you can also decide to participate in any activity of your liking if your social circle is not putting pressure on you or influencing you to act.

Types of Peer Pressures

There are different types of peer pressures and they can be experienced at any age. They are:

1. Peer pressure in spoken form

In this type of peer pressure, an individual or a group are seen to ask another individual to participate in a type of behaviour. The pressure is much more felt when it is a group as there is power in numbers.

2. Peer pressure that is not spoken

In this type of peer pressure the individual gets exposed to behaviors of certain kinds, trends, the choices of others and then feels the pressure to conform.

3. Peer pressure that is direct

This is a peer pressure that is very specific to conformity based on behaviour. It can be spoken or unspoken and it is usually challenging. At times it can give a heightened experience in that you become uncomfortable in the environment at the time of feeling the direct peer pressure.

4. Peer pressure that is indirect

Here an individual feels a peer pressure that is less invasive to the inner voice which tells it to behave in a certain way, however, it can give a validation on an activity or behavior that we most certainly want to try.

5. Peer pressure that is positive

This is a type of peer pressure that yields positive results or a healthy lifestyle choice. The pressure is usually felt during one-on-one situations or in groups and can be direct, indirect, spoken, and/or unspoken.

6. Peer pressure that is negative

In this type of peer pressure, an individual is challenged to do things that they are not used to thus engaging in behaviors that others are engaged in, often as a way of belonging. It can be direct, indirect, spoken, or unspoken.

Why it is common

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Peer pressure is a common thing amongst humans as anyone can have peers; that comes from different social circles irrespective of their age. It is something that can be experienced in any age and at any time and situation.

For instance, children and adolescents begins to experience peer pressure at a young age by getting engaged in behaviours that are risky like name calling, bullying, and breaking rules. By conforming to such peer pressures these children believe that it is the only way they feel to be a part of the group. Sadly, such feeling of needing to conform can linger on.

Also, adults at older ages can also experience peer pressure as they are not immune to it. The peer pressure in this age group can be risky behaviors too, but the resulting consequences can be more severe when compared with risky behaviors during childhood. Most of the peer pressures adults experience at at work because that's where they spend most of their time in the process interacting with coworkers.

Give examples of peer pressure

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As you have seen so far, there are so many ways where people can feel pressurised to start behaving in ways they may not have thought to. People from all races, genders, and ages are susceptible to feel any type of peer pressure at any point in life. Though it may not lead to any severe consequences, but there will surely be a feeling (good or bad) by all those who experience it.

Peer pressure in men during adolescence

It was found out recently that adolescent males are highly susceptible to risky behaviors with some being use of drugs and being aggressive. Usually males at this age maintain a stereotype based on gender roles and most time misrepresent such behavior as being masculine. Anyone who doesn't behave in such manner face a 'social consequence' and are then pressured to behave and act in a way that is in line with the majority.

Peer pressure relating to sexual activity

Another research found that males in high school and college were more to engage in sexual activities as a way of showing their masculinity and heteronormative identity. There is an unspoken expectation of males at this age to engage in sexual activities with the opposite sex as a large cultural norm that has not been challenged historically.

It is very common to see males at this age to feel a struggle internally to find a common ground in trying to manage the external pressure to behave in a certain way that they have no control over and trying to follow what they feel is right for them.

Peer pressure relating to consuming alcohol

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It has been found out from a research that men and women who are adults both experience the pressure to drink alcohol. This experience has been seen to be either aggressive or friendly depending on situation socially. Once in the adult age, there's no age discrimination when it involves the peer pressure to consume alcohol because many people can feel socially isolated if they do not get conformed.

How can one handle peer pressure?

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Handling peer pressure is something that everyone should consider especially when having an idea that one is prone to give into peer pressure. There are many ways one can handle peer pressure, which is based on the type of peer pressure that you experience.

To begin, you first need to have an awareness of your feelings about the situation and environment where the pressure is currently taking place. By paying attention to you emotions you can leverage it to allow you leave a situation before you see yourself peer pressured into doing things you most likely never thought to.

You can also talk about the feelings and set boundaries so that you can get comfortable in an environment. By doing so, you can determine if you would continue in that environment, that is if your boundaries are tested and not respected. This will help you put the company that you keep in a place and help you move to another company that respects you, your value system and boundaries.

Conclusion

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So far we have seen what peer pressure is about. It start from adolescence and grows with us into adult age. And as we grow with it, we experience peer pressure in different types. It is very common because it is something that has a way of presenting itself as we socialize with others.

However, you can learn how each type of peer pressure there is and how to avoid them. The best way to avoid peer pressure is by creating boundaries which has to be respected by others.