Former public school principal Paul Reeves completed his Ed.S. in education administration at Wayne State University, in Detroit, Michigan. Paul Reeves is also a parenting specialist and hosts the Dr. Paul Family Talk radio show that airs on Michigan's Impact Radio USA. He also authored the parenting book, A Principal's Family Principles, which teaches parents how to insulate their children from the negative effects of peer pressure.

While children of all ages can experience peer pressure, it is most prevalent during adolescence when young people are most impressionable by social forces. Peer pressure can lead to the following behaviors:

New habits: Youth may adopt the behaviors of their peers to fit in. This can be positive, such as studying harder to earn good grades. It can also encourage negative habits, such as smoking.

Self-doubt: If a youth is pressured into doing activities they don’t feel aligned with, it can cause them to question their own judgment. Parents support their children in developing high self-esteem so they can trust their instincts.

Withdrawal: In some situations, peer pressure can cause youth to engage in activities that counter the values of their family of origin. This friction can cause teenagers to distance themselves from their parents or become secretive.