How Much Peer Pressure Affects our Decision Making?
By Rylee Altwine
We have all experienced peer pressure at some point, but have you thought about how peer pressure affects your decision making?
Studies show that peer pressure from a group can result in a collective identity of a group rather than the individual’s true self. Many believe that when you're younger, peer pressure takes a bigger toll on your decision-making ability because you don’t have the confidence to say “no” yet. When you encounter peer pressure, the prefrontal cortex is the most affected part of the teenage brain.
Peer pressure can affect your mental health, decrease self-confidence, self-worth, and distance from family members and friends. Almost everyone can say they have been a victim of peer pressure at some point in their life, which is frightening due to how fast you might be making the wrong choice.
According to Fairfax County Public Schools, strategies and help are available to handle negative peer pressure, so you need to pay attention to how you feel. If something does not feel right, it is probably not a good idea. Plan ahead. Think about how you will respond in different situations. Have friends with similar values and beliefs. It is easier to say “no” when someone else is also saying it.
Peer pressure does not always happen in a negative way. Signs of positive peer pressure are encouraging one to be a better person or pushing a friend to study harder so they can get better grades.
Next time you find yourself in a situation involving peer pressure, remember the ways you can avoid the impact of it.
