Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is a direct or indirect influence exerted on peers, members of social groups who share similar interests, experiences or social status, and members of a peer group are more likely than others to influence a person's beliefs, values, religion and behavior. An individual or group may be encouraged, and want, to follow their peers by changing their own attitudes, values or behaviors to conform to those of the influencing group, an effect that can be either positive or negative for the person affected. Social groups subject to this influence include both membership groups, such as political parties, trade unions and schools, and cliques with less clearly defined membership, and a person need not even be seeking membership in a group to be affected by its pressure; research indicates that peer pressure affects people of all ethnic groups, genders and ages, and that organizations as well as individuals are susceptible to it, though it has been studied most often in children and adolescents.