Who are peers?  Peers are a group of people of similar age or who interact frequently with each other.  Peers can be anywhere – at school, at work, on a sports team, in a club – any place where there is human interaction.  Usually, your peers will have some level of influence on your performance of daily tasks.  For example, if you’re on a sports team, the way you play in a specific game will be a result of how your teammates (peers) have been playing. 

What is peer pressure?  Peer pressure occurs when a peer or group of peers tries to persuade you to do something that you do not want to do.  This includes many things.  Some examples of peer pressure can be stealing, trying some sort of drug, or performing an action that makes you feel uncomfortable.  Often when peers are trying to pressure one another they use such phrases as “every one is doing it”, “if you want to be cool you should do it” or “I won’t hang out with you if you don’t do it.”  Though it can happen to anyone at any time, peer pressure most frequently affects those in their pre-teen to late teen years.  When someone experiences peer pressure, he/she often feels as if there is no choice but to go along with his/her peers.  However, it is important to remember that peer pressure is not always a bad thing.  It is possible for peers to pressure other peers to break bad habits, such as binge drinking, smoking, or stealing. 

Though there are no real “symptoms” of peer pressure, there are emotions that you may feel if your peers are forcing you to do something that you don’t want to do.  Often you feel confused and trapped – as if the only way to stay friends with those pressuring you is to follow through with their wishes.  If ever you experience these feelings, remember that it’s perfectly normal.  Everyone has been exposed to peer pressure at some time in his or her life.  It’s normal to feel conflicted, so don’t let it worry you.  Remember to consider whether a real friend would pressure you into doing something that you are not comfortable with and then decide what is right for you.

Assess the situation.  Know what you are doing before you decide to do it.  Never feel compelled to partake in an activity that leaves you feeling bad about who you are.  Don’t compromise your sense of self to make others happy, because in the long run it’s simply not worth it.