Q&A for How to Deal With Peer Pressure

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Are there anyways to prevent peer pressure?

Peggy Rios, PhD
Counseling Psychologist
Dr. Peggy Rios is a Counseling Psychologist based in Florida. With over 24 years of experience, Dr. Rios works with people struggling with psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression. She specializes in medical psychology, weaving together behavioral health programs informed by empowerment theory and trauma treatment. Dr. Rios uses integrated, evidence-based models to provide support and therapy for people with life-altering medical conditions. She holds an MS and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Rios is a licensed psychologist in the state of Florida.

Peggy Rios, PhD

Counseling Psychologist

Expert Answer

Absolutely! I think the best thing you can do to keep this from being a problem is to make friends with a bunch of different people. I think peer pressure is a really big deal if you only have one friend group, because the stakes are higher if they pressure you into something and you have to leave them. But if you can leave one friend group and just go to another friend group, the stakes aren't as high.

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Question

How can teens get over peer pressure?

Peggy Rios, PhD
Counseling Psychologist
Dr. Peggy Rios is a Counseling Psychologist based in Florida. With over 24 years of experience, Dr. Rios works with people struggling with psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression. She specializes in medical psychology, weaving together behavioral health programs informed by empowerment theory and trauma treatment. Dr. Rios uses integrated, evidence-based models to provide support and therapy for people with life-altering medical conditions. She holds an MS and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Rios is a licensed psychologist in the state of Florida.

Peggy Rios, PhD

Counseling Psychologist

Expert Answer

As a teenager, your friend group is going to be fairly reasonable in most situations. You may be perceiving certain pressures to do something, but if you turn down them down and you're polite, I feel like the vast majority of teens will be perfectly okay with that.

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Question

What is an example of peer pressure?

Klare Heston, LCSW
Licensed Social Worker
Klare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).

Klare Heston, LCSW

Licensed Social Worker

Expert Answer

For example, when your friends want to drink at a party where the parents clearly stated there is to be no alcohol, but others say something like, "Hey, everyone will having something--you can't party without at least some beer." You might feel conflicted because you want to fit in, but also want to comply with the parents' request.

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Question

How can you resist peer pressure?

Klare Heston, LCSW
Licensed Social Worker
Klare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).

Klare Heston, LCSW

Licensed Social Worker

Expert Answer

You can resist peer pressure by thinking things through for yourself, and figuring where you stand on the risks of the situation. Is the trouble you might get into as a result of the behavior of the group worth maybe being called a name or getting some pressure from your friends? You could make a quick pro and con list, then make a decision based on that. You can also try being part of more than one group to dilute the impact of peer pressure.

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Question

What are the main causes of peer pressure?

Klare Heston, LCSW
Licensed Social Worker
Klare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).

Klare Heston, LCSW

Licensed Social Worker

Expert Answer

Peer pressure results from wanting to be liked and accepted by your friends. You don't want to stand out or be different. You just to blend in with those you really like, and don't want to question their behavior. You just want to "be like everyone else." Friendships are very important, and you don't want to be excluded from the group.

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Question

Is peer pressure a good thing?

Klare Heston, LCSW
Licensed Social Worker
Klare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).

Klare Heston, LCSW

Licensed Social Worker

Expert Answer

Peer pressure can be both a positive and a negative thing depending on the topic involved. Lots of times you can do the right thing because you don't want to go against the crowd or the rules or the expectations. It can also be negative when you don't think something through for yourself, and just blindly go along.

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