Peer pressure is a difficult thing to explain. Peer pressure is a mental pressure applied upon a person by outside individuals of the same age or grade. Peer pressure tends to drive individuals to do things they would not normally do. In some cases peer press can be good, but in most cases peer pressure often causes unlawful acts. The reall weird thing about peer pressure is that people try to pawn off their mistakes upon peer pressure as an easy scapegoat. This is a wrong way to think because peer pressure is not a reason to do something.
Even though peer pressure is very difficult to avoid, it is very possible to defeat. Some ways to avoid or defeat pressure is to take a stand in your opinion and do not let go of it. Another way to avoid peer pressure is to just simply walk away. This is an efficient way to stop peer pressure in its tracks as it gives others the clue not to do it either. Peer pressure is a very subtle way to get another person to do something. Some great advice to stop peer pressure is to do things your own way and become a leader. If people believe that you are doing something your own way and they agree with that way, they will generally follow it.
The whole basis behind peer pressure is knowing that a person will follow a group. There have been many tests conducted trying to explain why people normally conform or follow the group. One famous psychologist tested a group of students at a college. The basic experiment was to have students tell if a line matched to a selection of one of three other lines. The psychologist had a majority of the students take part in it and say clearly wrong answers to see if they would choose the wrong answer as well. In most cases the student would conform to the group because of fear of being ridiculed. Another fear was that the group was smarter than the individual so they went with the group. This can be applied to any peer pressure case in the world. To stop peer pressure you must fight it and not fall into conformity.
Peer pressure is a very common thing among high school and middle school students. Peer pressure can be positive if used correctly. Some highly suggested ways to prevent peer pressure is to be your own person, and do not fall into the conformity of others, especially if you know they are doing something that is ethically or morally wrong. If you feel like you cannot combat peer pressure face to face then just simply walk away. This not only proves that you are not interested, but it also makes others think about their following actions. If you walk away you could stop drugs, or maybe save a life for that matter. So please do not follow peer pressure, but also keep in mind that if you do make a mistake, do not use peer pressure as a scapegoat. Peer pressure is not a reason to make a mistake
