INTRODUCTION.

“ Curiosity associated with youthful exuberance while growing up, is like a bull, and if not tamed, will destroy and devour its rider.”

The truth of the matter is this; life is hard and risky. We are circumscribed within the enclosed circle and border line of uncertainties, various enticing options, luring us to follow diverse paths, not knowing their end. And we tend to coerce others directly or indirectly, to follow our lifestyles, irrespective of their consequences (whether it will result to success or failure).

Therefore, there is the need to depend on the proven and infallible guide, the author of life, and not on men, to lead each of us to the ancient path, where there is life, in order to be saved [from calamity] and be secured.

WHAT IS PEER PRESSURE?

Many scholars had made great attempts in defining the concept of Peer Pressure, but I will define it to mean; the mechanics and systems of subtly or forcefully, consciously or unconsciously, inducing and influencing our beliefs, values and lifestyles on others.

In simple terms, luring others to behave and think like we do. And this is prevalent among the teeming youths and teenagers, because of the challenges of growing up, coupled with the impulse to experiment with life, borne out of curiosity.

WHY IS PEER PRESSURE COMMON?

First of all let’s take a look at some of causes of peer pressure, and their influences on the people thus:

Societal value system.
Whatever thing the greater percentage of the society, have adopted and endorsed to be a value system, will grossly influence the entire populace. For example, in a society where indecent dressings had become an adopted fashion, it will affect the fashion trend and will entice the masses to conform to such style.

Belief system.
Liberalism have uprooted safety cautions and threw them into the waste bin, and had crucified morality. Therefore, in a society where same sex relationships and associated sexual perversions has been legalized, it will certainly determine the lifestyles of the people living in such places.

Fear of Rejection.
The urge and quest to be accepted and recognized is also one of the major causes teens succumbed to peer pressure, because they want to fit in, and not to appear odd among their peers.

The aforementioned causes are the reasons why peer pressure is common, because our belief and value systems are the foundational stones of every society, that controls the thinking patterns, which imposes conformity of behavioral templates, on the people. As the saying goes, “as a man thinks, so is he”.

From research, about ninety percentage of the teenagers, has been affected by peer pressure, starting from the age nine to eighteen.

TYPES OF PEER PRESSURE.

There are two major types of peer pressure, thus:

Direct Peer Pressure.
This is the case where a person is being enticed by spoken words, to do certain things he or she would not normally do. For example, taking a friend to a beer parlor and convincing the fellow by words, to drink one bottle of beer to be high in spirit.

Indirect Peer Pressure.
This is where suggestive behaviors and gestures are employed to influence others. For example, a group of girls dressing in a very seductive mini skirts in a campus while attending lectures, will greatly influence other students girls, to emulate their dressing styles, as the trending fashion in the institution.

HOW TO HANDLE PEER PRESSURE.

Know Yourself.
Self discovery is very paramount, because it will help you to determine what will work for you and what will not work. When you identify yourself, and discover your purpose on Earth, it will help in building boundaries, and only choose what will help you to grow and excel in life.

Saturate your mind with God’s Word.
Build your belief and value systems with the eternal Word of life . The word of God contains the principles of life, that will help anyone to live a meaningful and successful life.
When your heart is filled with the word of God, you will be able to discern godly and ungodly influences, and then, decide wisely. Don’t adopt societal values as yours, rather reprogram your mind with the Word of God.

Choose Your Friends.
Avoid people who try to lead you astray from your core moral beliefs. Always build an emotional and relational wall, to help you select good dispositions, and reject evil influences.

CONCLUSION.

Peer pressure is not only negative, there is also positive peer pressure. For example a group of people who prays together in an institution, can influence other peers and students to join them in engaging in such spiritual enterprise.

We should not accept cultures or lifestyles because it’s been endorsed by greater percentage of the people, rather we should endeavor to scrutiny them, in order to determine their effects [ negative or positive], on our lives and future, to help us choose the better ones.

Moreover, our lives on Earth is ephemeral, there is a life beyond the yonder, which has no end.
Therefore, we should imbibe and inculcate lifestyles that has eternal values, and reject societal perverted ways, in order to be relevance in eternity.