Peer pressure is the influence that members of the same social group exert on each other, encouraging individuals to change their attitudes, values, or behaviors to conform to the group. This influence can be direct or indirect and often occurs among people of similar age or social status, such as friends, classmates, or peers in various social settings
. People may feel peer pressure to do things they might otherwise resist or avoid, often to fit in, be accepted, or gain approval from the group. Common examples include pressures to engage in behaviors like drinking alcohol, using drugs, dressing a certain way, or participating in risky activities
. Peer pressure can be both negative, leading to harmful behaviors, and positive, encouraging beneficial actions such as trying new activities or improving social skills
. Teenagers and adolescents are particularly susceptible to peer pressure due to developmental changes in the brain and their ongoing search for identity and belonging
. Peer pressure can occur face-to-face or through digital interactions, including social media
. In summary, peer pressure is the social influence from peers that can shape an individual's choices and behaviors, motivated by the desire to belong and be accepted within a group
