Art Director: Luong Tran Anh Phuong
Copy Writer: La Phoi Lam
Strategic Planner: Hang Ngoc Tran
Background:
“Peer pressure” is not considered as a new social issue. It is defined by scientists and researchers that ‘pressure to think or behave along certain peer-prescribed guidelines’ (Clasen & Brown 1985). Developmental psycho-pathologists suggested that peer influence created a significant attribution of adolescent (Newman & Newman 1976). They also found that it was one of the factors influencing early adolescent social interaction and personal development (Newman & Newman 1976). Additionally, Peer Pressure multiplies when early adolescence arrives because this is a transitional stage from puberty to legal adulthood during which a young person is most tugged between dependence on parents and full independence to build certain self-esteem (Berndt and Ladd, 1989; Brittain, 1963; Clasen & Brown, 1985; Tolan and Cohler, 1993). It is said to be a multidimensional issue because adolescents experience it through different parts of their life such as university activities and activities with peers. Peer pressure-related topics that have been most researched about that include health risk problems and risk-taking actions.
Insight:
Peer pressure appears as the result of human nature that people desire to fit in or being a part of a group. As children move into adolescence, they start to physically, emotionally and socially change. They probably question what the adult standard is and find it is easier to get advises from friend, who is at the either age or in the equal position with them. During adolescence, there may appear a physical and psychological distant between parents and adolescents. It increases the amount of time that adolescents spend with their peers (Lingren 2004). While growing up, adolescents have various peer relationships and interact with peer groups. Therefore, it is nature that they want to be a part of them or they worry that others will make fun of them if they are different. The scientists admit that youth are strongly influenced by their friends as their crucial developmental steps to become interdependent-thinking adults (Wang 2013).
There are two types of peer pressure: verbal and non-verbal. The non-verbal pressure appears when adolescents start following their peers’ thinking, feeling or actions because they see it is cool thing to do; even though their peers do not ask or force them to behave in that way. The other obvious type is that when someone in group forces them to do something. It is understandable pressure because if they do not do what they are told to do, they will be left out of the group.
“Peer pressure” can bring troubles to life. Heavy pressures may include bullying or physical violence, which is popular in schools and colleges. Youths who have faced peer pressure may involve in violence, bullying others and even discriminatory behavior. The peer influences can develop the problem behaviors in youth (Smith et al 2009). However, sometimes, peer pressure may lead to many positive things such as studying harder to get good marks, develop good personalities and so on.
There are two types of peer pressure: verbal and non-verbal. The non-verbal pressure appears when adolescents start following their peers’ thinking, feeling or actions because they see it is cool thing to do; even though their peers do not ask or force them to behave in that way. The other obvious type is that when someone in group forces them to do something. It is understandable pressure because if they do not do what they are told to do, they will be left out of the group.
“Peer pressure” can bring troubles to life. Heavy pressures may include bullying or physical violence, which is popular in schools and colleges. Youths who have faced peer pressure may involve in violence, bullying others and even discriminatory behavior. The peer influences can develop the problem behaviors in youth (Smith et al 2009). However, sometimes, peer pressure may lead to many positive things such as studying harder to get good marks, develop good personalities and so on.
