ARTICLE CONTENTSOn this page 8 sections
Peer behaviours that influence decision Making
Performance Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
- state the meaning of peer pressure.
- demonstrate positive and negative peer pressure;
- differentiate between positive and negative peer influence;
- identify ways to counter peer pressure.
Meaning of Peer Pressure
Peer pressure is when friends or people of the same age group try to influence someone to do something. These friends are called peers. This influence can be strong and can make a person change their mind or actions to fit in with the group.
Peer pressure can happen in many places, such as in school, at home, or in the playground. It can affect the choices a person makes, whether those choices are good or bad.
Positive Peer Pressure
Positive peer pressure happens when friends encourage each other to do good things. This type of pressure helps a person to grow, learn, and make good choices that benefit them and others.
Examples of positive peer pressure include:
- Encouraging a friend to study hard for an exam.
- Asking a friend to join a sports club or a school activity.
- Motivating a friend to help clean the classroom or school compound.
- Reminding a friend to do their homework.
- Encouraging a friend to be kind to others or share their toys.
When friends push each other to do well, learn new things, or be better people, it is a good kind of peer pressure. It helps everyone involved to improve.
Negative Peer Pressure
Negative peer pressure happens when friends try to influence someone to do bad or harmful things. This type of pressure can lead to making poor choices that can cause trouble, harm, or regret.
Examples of negative peer pressure include:
- Asking a friend to skip school or classes.
- Encouraging a friend to cheat during a test.
- Pressuring a friend to bully another student.
- Daring a friend to steal something from a shop or another person.
- Asking a friend to try dangerous games or activities.
Negative peer pressure can make a person feel uncomfortable or scared to say no. It is important to recognise when friends are trying to make you do something wrong.
Differences Between Positive and Negative Peer Pressure
It is important to know the difference between positive and negative peer pressure so that good choices can be made. The main differences are:
| Feature | Positive Peer Pressure | Negative Peer Pressure |
|---|---|---|
| Outcome | Helps a person to grow, learn, and make good choices. | Leads to bad choices, trouble, harm, or regret. |
| Feeling | Makes a person feel good, supported, and confident. | Makes a person feel uncomfortable, scared, or guilty. |
| Actions | Encourages helpful, kind, and responsible actions. | Encourages harmful, unkind, or irresponsible actions. |
| Impact | Benefits the individual and others around them. | Harms the individual, others, or causes problems. |
Ways of Countering Peer Pressure
Learning how to deal with negative peer pressure is a very important life skill. There are several ways to counter peer pressure and stick to good choices:
- Say “No” firmly: Clearly state “No” without hesitation. You do not need to give a long explanation.
- Walk away: If friends continue to pressure you, it is okay to leave the situation.
- Tell an adult: Talk to a trusted adult like a parent, teacher, or guardian about what is happening. They can offer advice and help.
- Suggest a different activity: Try to change the subject or suggest doing something else that is positive and fun.
- Choose friends wisely: Surround yourself with friends who have good values and encourage positive behaviour.
- Think about the consequences: Before doing something, think about what might happen if you follow the negative pressure. Will it get you into trouble? Will it hurt someone?
Remember that real friends respect your choices and do not force you to do things you are uncomfortable with or know are wrong.
Role-Playing Peer Pressure Scenarios
Role-playing helps to practise how to handle peer pressure in real-life situations. This activity allows you to act out different scenarios and try out ways to respond to both positive and negative influences.
The procedure involves the following steps:
- Understand the scenario: A teacher or group leader will describe a situation involving peer pressure. This could be a positive situation (e.g., friends encouraging you to join a study group) or a negative one (e.g., friends asking you to skip homework).
- Assign roles: Different pupils will be assigned roles, such as the person being pressured, the friends applying pressure, or an observer.
- Act out the pressure: The pupils playing the friends will act out how they would try to influence the person. They can use words, gestures, or actions.
- Practise countering the pressure: The pupil being pressured will then demonstrate how they would respond. They can use any of the ways of countering peer pressure, such as saying “No” firmly, walking away, or suggesting a different activity.
- Discuss and learn: After the role-play, the class will discuss what happened. They will talk about what worked well, what could have been done differently, and how everyone felt during the role-play.
- Switch roles: Pupils can switch roles and try different scenarios to get more practice.
This practice helps to build confidence in making good decisions and standing up for what is right, even when friends try to influence you.
0 comments
Open the discussion when you need it. Comments stay collapsed until requested so the initial article remains light.