It is obvious that young people often influence each other’s behaviour. Although I acknowledge that such peer pressure holds some merits, I maintain that this can result in involvement in harmful activities and a loss of individuality.
One of the key benefits of peer pressure is that friends may positively influence their academic performance. This is because when a person is surrounded by those who are goal-oriented and devoted to their studies, they may start to take their studies seriously. Students studying in boarding schools can be notable examples in this case, as the more they spend time in a study environment, the more they get motivated by their peers. Therefore, students may study hard in order not to fall behind others.
Granted, peer pressure may generate some benefits; nevertheless, its adverse consequences are more far-reaching when teenagers are influenced by those who often engage in harmful activities. This means that young people tend to adjust their behaviour to meet the expectations of their social circles. For this reason, they are highly likely to adopt harmful habits – smoking, drinking alcohol, or using drugs – just to gain acceptance and avoid social exclusion.
Losing individuality is another side effect of peer pressure. If young people constantly seek external validation, they become highly conscious of how others perceive them and can be reluctant to show who they truly are. To illustrate, they often hesitate to express their own opinions or follow their interests due to the fear that these may not be accepted by their friends. Not only do these thoughts lead to losing self-confidence, but they also make them overly dependent on others so that they cannot make important decisions without others’ approval.
In conclusion, despite the initial appeal of peer pressure, I am convinced that the influence of peers is significantly more detrimental, as this can give rise to harmful activities and a loss of independence due to constantly worrying about others’ opinions of them.