Peer Pressure is Just One Influence
Sometimes we blame pressure from peers as the primary cause of problems we see among teenagers. Yet research clearly shows that other influences also matter. Teachers, parents, media and many other sources also shape young people’s attitudes and behaviors in different ways. Adolescent researcher Laurence Steinberg summarizes the research this way:
Peer pressure is not a monolithic force that presses adolescents into the same mold… Adolescents generally choose friends whose values, attitudes, tastes and families are similar to their own. In short, good kids rarely go bad because of their friends.
How Positive Peer Relationships Make a Difference
When young people feel rejected, bullied or victimized by their peers, they tend to have less interest in school, be more disruptive and are more likely to drop out. But when students have support from, and feel accepted by, their peers in school, they tend to:
- Have better feelings about their school and their teachers.
- Be more engaged in school and in learning.
- Be more motivated in school, feeling competent and setting goals for their own growth.
- Take action to protect the safety of others.
Facts on Bullying in School
Bullying exemplifies negative peer relationships. It involves unwanted aggressive behaviors by young people who have (or seem to have) more power. It can include making threats, spreading rumors, physical or verbal attacks, or intentional exclusion of someone from a group. The most recent federal statistics (2013) on bullying in schools from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics demonstrate the breadth of the problem.
Jostens partnered with Search Institute to provide research-based data and advice for dealing with common school challenges. Over the past 30 years, Search Institute has studied the strengths and difficulties in the lives of more than five million middle and high school youth across the country and around the world to understand what kids need in order to succeed. Like Jostens Renaissance, Search Institute focuses on young people’s strengths, rather than emphasizing their problems or deficiencies. Visit SearchInstitute.org to learn more.
Click the button to download a PDF with class activities, statistics, research and references around peer pressure and bullying.
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