Peer Influence: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Essay

Everyone demand to drop dead to feel connected with or so others and be with others who cover attitudes, interests, and circumstances that resemble their own. People choose friends who get down and comparable them and see them in a friendly light. (Lebelle, 1999).Middle shallow is a tough time. at that place argon numerous changes occurring internally and externally amongst kidskinren in this age group. Boys and girls atomic number 18 maturing physically at rapid paces, retri exclusivelyive now their emotional maturation is a hook slower. This trick cause problems. Most young adolescents proneness adult treatment, because they atomic number 18 beginning to look same adults, but, on the inside(a), they be still easily lured pip-squeakren. Teens atomic number 18 desperate to get in with their comrades at cultivate and forget go to extremes to do so. This can be good and bad.see morespeech on lucifer thrustPositive match solve can encourage such desirabl e qualities as truthfulness, fairness, cooperation, and abstinence form drugs and intoxicant. (Ormrod). On the other hand, banish accomplice function can encourage aggression, lamentable activity, and other antisocial behaviors (Ormrod). Illegal drug and alcoholic drinkic beverage use, promiscuity, bullying, and loss of identity can all resultant role from negative equal pressure. Teachers need to be educated well-nigh these things. They need to know what occuring outside of their classrooms is in order to make a difference inside their classrooms.Cliques play a key role in both positive and negative peer influence. Depending on which multitude a barbarian belongs to, he could exit an honor student who never tries drugs or alcohol or he could occasion an alcohol or drug abuser, a bully, or he could conk promiscuous which could need to STDs or teen parenting. There is a hierarchy when it comes to camps. The prevalent kids are at the very top. These students are usu ally nice-looking, well-dressed, and involve with athletics and clubs. Those things are all well and good, but sometimes, the popular kids are in addition into partying with drugs and alcohol.A child who reaches age 21 without smoking, ab exploitation alcohol or using drugs is virtually certain never to do so (Lebelle, 1999). Unfortunately, thatrarely happens. Most girls generate tried alcohol by age thirteen and most boys have tried it by age eleven. The average American begins insobriety regularly at age fifteen. That core that the majority of nitty-gritty take children have already experimented with alcohol. Many cases of adolescent drink are tie in to pressure from peers. That is why it is important for parents and teachers to encourage their children and students to split themselves from peers who drink. Young adolescents testament be less potential to begin drinking or smoking if they engineer clear from camps that do non drink or smoke and if they are taught by their parents to stay by from alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.Even if a child is encouraged from the climb up to resist drugs and alcohol, he can still become involved with these deadly toxins. slightlytimes, the lust to conform to a certain image is just too strong. essay drugs and alcohol may make a middle schooltime child feel like he fits in with his classmates. If the cool kids are doing it, then a child who is unpopular may think that drinking or smoking will make him cool. Some young adolescents are able to do drugs and alcohol a few times and then cease whenever they wish, but there are many who just try it once and then they are hooked. It is operose to know which teens will experiment and stop and which will develop salutary problems (Lebelle, 1999).Pressure from certain cliques can non nevertheless influence drinking and drug use, but likewise bullying. Most cliques have a leader and the members of the clique want to be pleasing to the leader. If the leader make s maneuver of fellow students who do non wear denomination brand vestments, then it is only natural for the other clique members to think that it is cool to do the like thing. Also, those kids who want to belong to a certain clique will closely watch how their coveted clique behaves. Then, they will try to mimic those actions.There are also times when children who are more athletic will bully classmates who are smaller and not as gifted at athletics. This has even been state to be the cause of school violence. The two killers in the Columbine tragedy, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, were supposedly tormented constantly by the Jocks. When the two boys entered high school, theyfound it difficult to fit into any of the cliques. As is too common in high school, the boys found themselves frequently picked on by athletes and other students (Rosenberg). Bullying is a deeply baneful act that can torment and traumatize a child for life.Promiscuity is something that used to be frowned up on. like a shot it is cool to be sex activityually active as a young child. Popular Culture is instruct are middle school children that the less clothing you have on, the more cool you are. Children are perceive sexual images everywhere and it is creating muddled thinking in their minds. Young adolescents have the incorrect notion that they are adults, but the truth is that they are nowhere set about mature enough to handle sexual relationships. However, the pressure to have sex is abundant and hard for middle school kids to resist.Teens also have cultural beliefs about what is normal sexual behavior. Although most teenage girls believe that sex equals love, other teens especially boys believe that sex is not the ultimate expression of the ultimate commitment, but a casual activity with minimal risks or serious consequences (Lebelle, 1999). The reality is that sex has many risks and carries serious consequences.Sexually Transmitted Diseases and pregnancy are not carefully co nsidered enough by young adolescents who want to have sex.The pressure to conform is overwhelming for teens today. Cliques influence the actions of kids in everything from academics and athletics to drugs and sex. Our world has a misconsqued plan of what makes an individual cool and unfortunately our young state are being taught these messed up ideas everyday through the media and from classmates. Teachers can help by providing positive examples and cost increase for their young students.Everyone knows about the negative affects of peer pressure. However, peer pressure can be positive it is also not as scary as some may believe. Studies show that, almost always, peer influence is weaker than adults believe (Black, 2002). Adults tend to underestimate middle school childrenand their ability to make decisions on their own. When a child commits a wrongdoing, parents automatically want to blame peer influence. Yet research has shown that young adolescents are not necessarily drawn in to certain behaviors by peer pressure, rather they decide to be more like their peers on their own.It is no secret that middle school children strive to blend in with their peers. The need to belong is an important aspect in a childs life. Peer pressure is real, but it is not always crippling. Positive peer pressure can be overwhelmingly rewarding. In contrast, negative peer influence can be catastrophic. Contrary to popular belief, middle school children do respect the thoughts of adults and desire to be like them. Parents and teachers need to remember that when they are battling negative peer pressure. Although parents may be relegated to a lesser role in the influence they flip over their young adolescent children, these same children will listen to and emulate other adults. Whether it be teachers, parents of their friends, or community members, adults have the opportunity to influence and lead the young adolescent in positive directions (Knowles & Brown, 2000).BibliographyBlack , S (2002, April). Rethinking peer pressure. American School, 189, Retrieved June2, 2006, from http//www.asbj.com/2002/04/0402research.html(January 23, 2001). Study Peers sway a childs interest in smoking, drinking as early as6th grade. CNN.com, Retrieved June 1, 2006, fromhttp//archives.cnn.com/2001/wellness/01/23/teen.drinking/index.htmlKnowles, T & Brown, D.F. (2000). What every middle school teacher should know.Portsmouth, NH Heinemann.Lebelle, N (1999). Peer influence and peer relationships. Retrieved June 2, 2006, fromFocus Adolescent Services Web grade http//www.focusas.com/PeerInfluence.htmlOrmrod, J.E. (2006). Educational psychology Developing learners.Upper Saddle River,NJ Prentice HallRosenberg, J (2006). Columbine massacre. Retrieved July 2, 2006, from close to Web sitehttp//history1900s.about.com/od/famouscrimesscandals/a/columbine.htmWilliams, M (2001-2006). Teen sex and pregnancy. Retrieved June 1, 2006, fromWestside Pregnancy resourcefulness Center Web sitehttp//w ww.wprc.org/9.28.0.0.1.0.phtml