NATIONAL ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY

Advanced Education Programs

CRITICAL THINKING
GROUP 14
Topic: Can peer pressure be a good thing?

Full name Students’ code

1. Introduction:

It can be said that peer-pressure is one of the most common phenomenon

among young people nowadays and it has an important impact on each
person’s self-development. As humans always need to feel a sense of
belonging, peer-pressure creates a feeling which urge you to act in a similar
way as the members of your social circle in an effort to fit in and get their
approval or respect. Many young people are concerned about this problem,
which has led to a discussion on whether or not peer-pressure is always a
good thing. Personally, I strongly believe that the serious and detrimental
consequences it causes for people’s mental health and self-identity
obviously outweigh the benefits it brought.

2. Supporting paragraphs:

2.1. Mental health issues:

Research has shown that peer pressure creates negative effects on people’s
mental health. Firstly, the most common mental issues of peer-pressure is
low self-esteem. Due to the stress of peer pressure, a person may begin to
doubt their own abilities and tend to constantly compare themselves to other
people. This causes a feeling of dissatisfaction or disappointment within
themselves, which is commonly seen as insecurities about appearance,
feeling undeserving, useless, ... Negative self-talk, craving for external
validation to feel worthy, people-pleasing are also some other commonly
seen negative results. In a Pew Research Centre poll of American teenagers
between the age 13 to 17, over three out of ten report feeling a lot of
pressure to fit in socially (28%) and to look attractive (29%). That people
continuously judging themselves and feeling inferior could make them not
be able to express all of their talents, abilities and potentials. Over time, the
negative self-conception you have on yourself could lead to depression.
American Psychology Association (AMA) found out that peer pressure its
one of the main causes lead to depression. Research indicates a strong
and positive relationship between peer pressure and depression in
young individuals. When depression is at its worst, it can result in
destructive actions such as self-harm and suicidal thoughts (Anna
Freud – National Centre for Children and Families).
Moreover, peer pressure also contributes to the fear of rejection, which is
especially harmful to teenagers. For youngsters those who are still
developing their own identity, they need to feel a sense of belonging and
their personal image is also very important. The idea of being ignored or
left out by friends seems to be horrifying to them. Taking advantage of that
fear, peer pressure would give you the misconception that refusing your
peers could make you end up being isolated from the group or lead to social
rejection. Individuals may constantly feel anxious as they are burdened with
saying or doing the proper thing all the time to please others. From that they
may end up putting others’ needs beyond their own. Also, it can be very
frustrating to retain a particular image all the time in order to fit in. All of
these things may result in increased tension and anxiety, which would be
detrimental to one's general health. “Research further states that the
presence of peer pressure is a predictor for increase stress levels,
anxiety and sleep issues (Anna Freud – National Centre for Children
and Families).”
2.2. Loss of identity:
It is obvious that peer pressure results in a loss of individuality. Although
each person is an individual with different perceptions and personalities, not
everyone has enough courage to show their individuality and skills in a
group. The newspaper's article “6 Reasons Why Peer Pressure is Risky”
has shown that the percentage of people aged from 18 to 25 year-old who
are pressured when leaving their comfort zone is up to 63,3%. Humans tend
to follow the “mob-mentality”, want to integrate into the group, gain
approval, and fear being left behind and criticized, so they conform to
group norms even if the norms conflict with their personal preferences.
That is the reason why people face an identity crisis due to peer pressure.
Peer pressure compels people to blindly follow the standard of society and
put others’ needs beyond yours. In the long run, this conformity can erase
the distinctiveness of one's personality and prevent them from pursuing
passions. When people constantly compare themselves to others, we may
feel defective and pressured to conform to the standard and achieve similar
success and reputation as others. Being under peer pressure, people need to
express their own identity and individuality instead of being a copy of their
peers. In one research of the University of Nairobi about peer pressure, the
survey showed that 15,4% of participants lack independent decisions which
is relevant to individuality loss succumbing to peer pressure.
2.3. Can adapt to harmful habits, encourages risky behaviors:
People tend to give in to bad habits and take risks because they feel
pressure to fit in with their peers. Social psychologist Philip Zimbardo
argues in The Lucifer Effect that this pressure is a powerful force that can
push us to act unethically. We all have a strong desire to be accepted by
others, and this can sometimes lead us to adopt the behaviors of those
around us, even if they go against our own morals. This is especially true
for teenagers, who are often highly influenced by their friends. In their
desire to be popular, teens might make bad choices, like trying drugs or
alcohol, before they're even 15.
According to the new data taked from 280 000 adolescents in Europe,
Central Asia and Canada from the Health Behaviour in School-aged
Children (HBSC), alcohol is by far the most commonly used substance
among adolescents. More than half (57%) of 15-year-olds have tried
alcohol at least once (56% of boys and 59% of girls), and nearly 40%
reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days (36% of boys and 38% of
girls).
The desire to fit in can lead teens to make bad choices. Faced with a group
drinking, a teenager might ignore the consequences and drink too, just to be
accepted. Similarly, curiosity and the allure of seeming cool can make
drugs seem appealing, even if the teen is afraid. This pressure to conform is
particularly strong for young people who crave approval from their peers.
Peer pressure can cloud judgment and make it hard for teens to make good
choices. They might prioritize fitting in over their own well-being. Robert
Cialdini's book "Influence" suggests that giving in to peer pressure can
erode your own sense of right and wrong, making you rely on others'
opinions. Since teenagers are still figuring out who they are and what they
want, it's especially important for them to develop a strong sense of self.
However, peer pressure can make it difficult for them to maintain their
unique identities, pushing them towards activities and values that don't truly
reflect who they are.
Every admission season in Vietnam, the dilemma of selecting a major and
university is a tough one. Despite the abundance of career counseling and
orientation services, most students continue to select their majors and
colleges based on the belief that "other students choose the same." This
occurs not because the field is a good fit for them, but rather because they
believe that a field with a large student body is good and will offer high
salaries upon graduation. When students realize they are unfit for the sector,
this will have numerous repercussions. Pupils will experience
discouragement, lose motivation to learn, and in certain situations, give up
on their time in college.
3. Rebuttal:

Some opponents might argue that peer pressure can contribute to personal
growth. Admittedly, peer pressure can motivate people to develop
important skills and abilities in order to step out of their comfort zone and
achieve success. While this can be true at first, in the long run, peer
pressure can result in a loss of individuality. Each person possesses
different abilities, talents, and goals. Trying to follow someone else’s
success can make you forget to appreciate and embrace your own talents.
Over time, this conformity can erase the distinctiveness of one's personality
and prevent them from pursuing passions. Moreover, inspiring individuals
to strive for similar achievements and aspire to fit in with other people
could lead to self-doubt, insecurities, negative self-conception and
constantly comparing themselves to others. With time, all of those things
can possibly cause depression and other mental health issues. As only a
person knows himself best, embracing one’s own unique identity can help
them fully understand their own strengths and from that they could be able
to easily express all of their talents, abilities and potentials. That people
consider their own interests, abilities and prioritize their own needs can help
them develop best in their own ways.

4. Conclusion:

In conclusion, peer pressure is a normal occurrence and happens in each

period of people’s life, however, peer pressure still has a negative impact on
people of all ages. Mental health issues, loss of individuality, adapting to
harmful habits, and encouraging risky behavior are the undesirable
 consequences resulting from peer pressure. In the long run, the more peer
pressure people suffered, the more detrimental influence people received.

5. References:

[Link]
[Link]
college
[Link]
individual/
Document: THE EFFECTS OF PEER PRESSURE: A CASE STUDY OF
THE PUBLIC SERVICE by Eunice Wanjiku Maina from University of
Nairobi - Faculty of Art
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
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