Peer Pressure

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that peer pressure does not only refer to negative influence, but can also refer to positive influence. It discusses how it is the negative influence that gains the most interest though, because of the potential problems they can cause. The paper also looks at the causes of peer pressure, the impact it can have on teenagers, and the possible solutions to the problem.

From the Paper:

"One of the reasons that peer pressure is such an important issue is that it is largely unavoidable. It is unavoidable because it stems from the normal process of growing up and experiencing adolescence. This relates to the psychological conflict of adolescence known as the "identity versus identity confusion" (Berk 382). This basically refers to a process where a teenager tries to define who they are. It is also noted that teenagers become "self-concious and introspective" as they try to find out who they are (Seamon & Kenrick 398). This leads to a process where they question who they are and look for guidance on who they should be. This means using their peers to judge their own behavior. This normal process of adolescence means that teenagers are looking to their peers to guide them and will often adapt their behavior to fit in with what appears to be accepted behavior. In this way, peers exert a natural pressure on each other."

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