Peer Pressure

Defining Peer Pressure
Have you ever done something—like smoking or trying drugs—just because you felt pressured or forced? Drinking, smoking, staying out past curfew, having sex when you are not ready, engaging in criminal behavior ... whatever it may be, sometimes others pressure you to participate in something you might not want to do.
In life we are faced with some challenging decisions. Making choices on our own can be tough, but when other people get involved with the decisions we make and influence us to do something we usually would not do so that we will be accepted by our peers and live up to their expectations or to follow a particular fashion or trend, this is called peer pressure. Everyone has to deal with it, even adults.
We usually define a peer as a friend or acquaintance who is about the same age as you. A peer could also be someone in the community or even someone on TV. Peers influence our decisions and actions, whether you know it or not, just by spending...