Peer Pressure and Adolescent Development Research Paper

Research shows that the part of the brain called the Striatum has higher activity when a lottery participant beats a peer, then when they win the lottery alone. (“Science Daily”) Peer pressure is  the feeling of having to do the same thing as the other people of their age and group of friends to feel respected and liked. Peer pressure is commonly seen in teenagers but is not limited too, and usually begins in early childhood.(“HealthOfChildren”) Peer pressure can influence positive actions such as the encouragement of studying, joining a sport or club, as well as influencing negative actions such as drug abuse. (“Scholastic”) Those experiencing peer pressure commonly show signs such as overly aggressive behavior.(“HealthOfChildren”)  As adolescents and even adults find themselves developing their identity, the people they surround themselves with and peer pressure also play vital roles in their development.

Research and surveys prove over and over again the influence of peers on impulsive reaction to decisions faced with. When surrounded by peers, studies show that people may feel pressured to make a decision in the moment, without taking their own wellbeing and judgment into account. Weill Medical College of Cornell University's Dr. B. J. Casey states “teens are very quick and accurate in making judgments and decisions on their own and in situations where they have time to think. However, when they have to make decisions in the heat of the moment or in social situations, their decisions are often influenced by external factors like peers.”(Scholastic) Dr. B. J. Casey’s words show the strong influence of peers on one's ability to make decisions with the proper judgment and that commonly people feel pressured to make an impulsive decision. These external factors usually have a stronger influence on somebody's decision making than their own immediate judgment of how it may affect them in the future. This can lead to negative or positive decisions that will be made and may affect somebody's future.

In relation to Impulsive decision making Todd Braver, professor in psychology in arts and sciences at Washington University in St.Louis conducted a study in which he examined what happens in the brain when people wait on a reward from a decision and compared results from those characterized as “patient” and those characterized as “Impulsive”. Braver’s study proves that “...people may be impulsive because they do not or cannot imagine the future, so they prefer rewards right away.”(“Washington University In St. Louis”) Braver’s study proves that when making impulsive decisions the effect they play on the future and their reward is not taken into account. These decisions can range from something small like what is ordered at a restaurant with peers, or doing a drug to feel included and satisfied around peers, making a regrettable decision in the moment for instant satisfaction can dictate the development of identity and how people view themselves and those around them for as little as a day to the rest of their lives.

People often find themselves hanging around certain groups of people who may influence them and their self esteem/identity. Developing adolescents have a very important factor of peer acceptance that plays a role in relationships, “During adolescence, peer relationships become more salient. Adolescents spend increasingly more time with peers, often without supervision from adults, and expectations of opinions of peers come to have a more important value to them” (“JournalOfYouth'') As a direct result of how adolescents value their peers expectations and opionions they may start to feel like they do not fit in or are not liked by their peers, if they do not do something they feel pressured to do. These feelings commonly have a strong impact on their self esteem and self identity.

As a direct result of peer acceptance, the way that one views themselves and more importantly their self esteem/identity may feel influence. D. Carlson Jones states that “There has been impressive consistency, however, in the connection between the perception of acceptance by peers and body image regardless of gender and age. Individuals who are uncertain about their acceptance by peers are much more likely to seek validation from others and base their worth on the reflected evaluations from peers.”(“Science Direct”) More importantly as a result of how people view themselves it shows their levels of self esteem and confidence to those around them. If someone shows obvious lack of self confidence to those around them they may be identified differently by those around them. According to Indeed.com, “When it comes to interviewing, 97% agree confidence is a critical skill, and 98% consider it crucial when negotiating a hiring package.”(“Indeed”) This statement proves that confidence is viewed as very important to those hiring, proving that confidence is a key to a strong identity and representation to employers who may hire them.

One of the most common examples of peer pressure to come to people’s minds is addiction and drug abuse. Many believe that the people they surround themselves with are those who they can trust with their life and that only have good intentions. However, data shows that, “More people reported trying alcohol at gatherings with close friends rather than large parties filled with strangers. Peer pressure still exerted an effect in scenarios with fewer close friends, but the connection of friendship empowered the effect.”(“AddictionCenter”) Addiction is a rocky road that many get stuck on without a choice due to a one time decision influenced by their peers that they made in hopes of fitting in better. Addiction causes physical and mental changes that are non-reversible and will more then likely impact somebody for their remainder of their life and cause changes that will forever identify them. Colleen L. Barry, PhD, MPP, an associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health performed a survey on 709 people where she surveyed their attitudes towards drug addicts. Barry concluded that, “Only 22 percent of respondents said they would be willing to work closely on a job with a person with drug addiction.”(“JohnHopkins”) Barry’s study shows that those who have an addiction are viewed differently by those around them and many view them very negatively. Leading to a direct correlation between peer pressure and a negative identity as a result of one choice one may have made to feel like they are a part of, or included in a group of peers.

Peer pressure plays a huge role in people and the way they interact with those around them. Whether positive or negative they can lead people to decisions that could change their lives forever. As adolescents and even as adults, individuals find themselves developing their identity, the people they surround themselves with and peer pressure also play vital roles in their development. Decisions made now will affect one’s future. Therefore the friends and peers that people surround themselves with have a vital role in their future and the decisions they make. 

Works Cited

“Confidence at Work: Why Employers Should Nurture This Skill.” Indeed.com, 2020, www.indeed.com/lead/confidence-at-work. Accessed 24 Mar. 2022.

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Birkeland, Marianne Skogbrott, et al. “Peer Acceptance Protects Global Self-Esteem from Negative Effects of Low Closeness to Parents during Adolescence and Early Adulthood.” Journal of Youth and Adolescence, vol. 43, no. 1, 24 Feb. 2013, pp. 70–80, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3889815/#CR7, 10.1007/s10964-013-9929-1. Accessed 22 Mar. 2022.

“Peer Pressure? It’s Hardwired into Our Brains, Study Finds.” ScienceDaily, 2022, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110906164312.htm#:~:text=The%20researchers%20found%20that%20the,was%20more%20activated%20as%20well.. Accessed 21 Mar. 2022.

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“Study: Public Feels More Negative toward People with Drug Addiction than Those with Mental Illness | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.” Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Oct. 2014, publichealth.jhu.edu/2014/study-public-feels-more-negative-toward-people-with-drug-addiction-than-those-with-mental-illness. Accessed 24 Mar. 2022.

‌Weeks, Molly Stroud, and Steven R. Asher. “Loneliness in Childhood.” Advances in Child Development and Behavior Volume 42, 2012, pp. 1–39, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/peer-acceptance, 10.1016/b978-0-12-394388-0.00001-0. Accessed 22 Mar. 2022.