Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is a powerful mental force that influences everyone, but tends to more strongly affect people in their teenage years. It can be both good and bad depending on what they are being pressured to do. Sports figures can be a positive influence, as kids try to perfect their skills and abilities to be more like them. Characters in the movies however, tend to influence kids to follow their footsteps in an attempt to do the impossible. For a teenager, trying to fit in and be accepted is a big goal and they will often go to great extremes to be liked and popular among their peers. Their thirst for positive or negative popularity and attention forcefully affects the actions of today’s teens.
“Peers become increasingly important during the teenage years� (Horn & Keough p.42). Their “self-esteem is directly affected by the degree to which they feel accepted by the peer group-and conformity is the price that’s paid to be accepted by the crowd� (Panzarine p. 146).They become very influential in such things as dress, athletics, and conduct. Peer relationships are often not looked well upon because of the types of thing kids to do to impress one another. When if fact,� Peer relationships help teen

Sports can be harmful however, when the teen become too aggressive and caught up in winning the game, rather than a healthy competition.

however, is a permanent display of individuality. Kids get tattoos for the same reason they get piercings, they want to be different and cool.

The appearance of teens is a large factor that determines their popularity. Weiman states, “ We have found out why, in the ordinary crowd, appearances count for so much-that’s about all other people can know about us” (p. 128). Piercings and tattoos are a common way for teens to set themselves apart from others in appearance. The more popular piercings seen today are multiple holes in the ear, navel, eyebrow, and tongue rings. “Kids who get pierced, indeed, are seeking to distinguish themselves from the rest

Sports figures are often viewed as a good influence for teens. Involvement in sports teaches teamwork, requires dedication, and promotes a healthy lifestyle free from drugs.

Another way teens receive authoritative approval is through their performance in school. “Children should never be working just to please their parents-or for that matter, anyone else, including their teachers” (Philadelphia Child Guidance Center p.43). In some cases teens spend all their time and effort in school that they don’t have a life outside of the classroom and their social skills suffer all in the name of authoritative approval. Along with their performance in school, teens also show complete submission to authority. These kids are often called “the teacher’s pet”. Teens