Teenagers And Peer Pressure: How It Works

‘Children are considered to be a God’s gift’ as they reflect how the parents were once during their youth, however if complete care is not taken incase of them it may lead to disastrous consequences which no parent will like to see or think of ever. The young innocent minds meet at school, form friendships and grow with them and some of them turn out to be long lasting ones. This is not the case in every child’s life; as soon as they turn adolescent their mind starts diverting in a different direction just as is the fabled case of Adam and Eve. Tremendous care and watch is required to keep a child on the right path. This is the most delicate period of the whole life because during this period either the foundation of children either gets strong or they become complete failures. The child and parents need to understand each other completely in order to pass out through this difficult phase.

One of the biggest threats to the growth a child during this period is the ‘peer pressure’. This is a major hurdle for adolescents and their parents as well. The term peer pressure refers to influence exerted on adolescents by their friends or peers to change the attitude, values or behavior in order to follow the norms of their group. This element is at its peak in the eight and ninth standards and gradually decreases the more children climb higher in their career. Not all teens react the same way, there is a huge difference between girls and boys of this age. Girls don’t easily succumb to peer pressure while boys tend to flow away with the pressure built up on their minds. Many factors count during these tiring times: confidence, level of maturity and knowledge play an important part.

During the adolescent period if the spoilt brats of rich families are in a teenager’s group, there are chances that they may become rebellious, prone to fast driving, wearing costly chains and even getting involved in drug trade as well. Marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines are some of the well known drugs which are ruling the current generation and their trends. Therefore, parents need to be alert in reading signs of taking drugs, having alcohol or smoking cigarette as well. There are seven reasons due to which teens may give in to peer pressure: lack of confidence, self-importance, isolation, curiosity, need to accepted, taken for granted and no particular interest in any hobbies.

This can be combated by nurturing good family-values, understanding each other, getting involved in various activities, both indoor and outdoor; spending quality time with family and telling the truth to parents no matter whatever it is. These steps will not only build up a good rapport between the teenager and his/her parents however it will also make them understand the importance of sharing and the warmth of family love. It all depends on how the adolescents and their families take the situation, rest depends on mutual understanding.