When we talk about peer pressure here, we’re referring to situations where you feel pressured into doing something to fit in with a group of people around you that negatively affects yourself or someone else. This could be drinking too much, driving too fast, doing dumb shit from Jackass etc.

Even though it might seem like it at the time, giving in to peer pressure probably won’t make you feel better about yourself or reveal some grand secret of the universe. You’ll probably end up feeling worse because someone else’s influence has belittled and degraded you. Basically, you leave yourself wide open to being punked.

There is no silver bullet to overcoming peer pressure.

No quick-fix solution that will work in all cases. You have to know who you are and know whether the behaviour you’re being pressured into is worth the time, or whether it is just plain stupid.

Sometimes you can decline to participate with humour (“Nah, If I drink any more I’m gonna puke on you all”); sometimes you can overcome it with conviction (“I might smoke a joint now and then, but bucket bongs aren’t my thing”); but sometimes you’ll just have to call peer pressure out for what it is, and just walk away with your pride (“I’m not beating on that kid. Beating him is wrong and I ain’t doing it”).

Remember: the things we do and don’t do have consequences, and they don’t have to be bad.

Knowing who you are and what you’re about will help in these situations. And remember, if you’re faced with a peer-pressure activity you think is bullshit, stand tall and call it what it is – you don’t win any medals for being a douchebag.

Read more on peer pressure:

Like It Is – Peer Pressure

ReachOut – Peer pressure

Child and Youth Health