Peer Pressure is a word that simply sounds bad and harmful.
The convincing urge to do something because you see other people doing it is something that has been around since the beginning of human consciousness.
In actuality, it's even present in animals, known as The Herd/Flock Movement. In this action, animals move in huge numbers as groups to do an action; Grazing, Travelling, Drinking, etc.
Whatever they do, they do it together. It helps in keeping safe and avoiding predators.
Like the cattle's and the antelopes, we humans tend to move in groups too.
Groups in which the participants are of the same age or close to the same age tend to be more tightly knit than groups of diverse ages.
And like the animals, this group of peers tend to do different things together, everyone eating at the same time, eating the same thing as a result of peer pressure in the group.
Now this peer pressure indeed has its advantages and disadvantages and the difference between the two heavily depends on the people who makes up the group.
Although to a lonely kid, anyone who seems to actively wanna be your friend would be good😔
Plenty people would read and hear about how peer pressure is promoting vices and causing havoc in the community, yet no one notices the lad who gained boldness because of his group.
Well the bad news is always louder and more frequently said than the good one.
Some Advantages of Peer Pressure
I'll list and explain only advantages because the disadvantages are always talked about 😂
- Strength in Numbers
Like I said before, the herd movement by animals are used to ensure safety and build confidence. It's the same with groups and peer pressure.
A young kid who has his friends together with him would always be more confident than a lad who's always alone.
The confidence in numbers cannot be overlooked!
- Pressured to Try Something New
Peer pressure aids in diversity. A child who would have never thought of doing something like this or trying something else can suddenly be curious about the other way if he sees his friend doing it.
A new flavor of ice cream, a new book, a new game or toy or song, peer pressure helps kids go embrace the new.
- A Model Learning Aid
Now this is for a kid who is pressured by a smarter kid.
This really works parents!!
If Kid A notices John is always getting A+ in his science test. Well he just might ask John how he does it. John then goes on and tells him his reading habits, influencing Kid A's reading habits for the better.
Kid A would diligently follow John's advice, in hopes of getting the same score in his test.
Of course, I normally wouldn't recommend Peer Pressure as it's a tough thing to support when the child is gotten hooked.
The child could end up unable to make his own decisions and be self reliant without his peers, not having his own unique voice or likes or choices.
Then there's always the option that he chooses bad friends and they end up influencing him for the worst😂.
Peer Pressure is a risky gamble every person gets the choice of playing at any time.
Would my decisions be because of group thinking or is it just my thinking?
This is a reply to the #inleo #aprilinleo monthly prompts posted by @leo.tasks
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These advantages of peer pressure you stated are really cool and I second your opinions.