Peer pressure can influence a person's decisions. Friends might pressure you by teasing you or giving you a lot of attitude. Other times you might feel pressured to do something you don't want to do because you think your friends want you to do it, but they don't actually say or do anything to encourage you at all. This is peer influence — you make a decision to do something because you think your action will make you fit in better.
Read the situation below and those on the next few pages. Then, decide if each is an example of peer pressure or peer influence and select your answer. Next, think about how the person being pressured might feel. Finally, decide what you would do in the situation.
Letisha has a sister who is in the grade ahead of her. Letisha likes it when her sister lets her hang out with her and her friends because at their school it's considered pretty cool to be seen with kids older than you. One afternoon Letisha is at home with the older girls. There are no adults around. The older girls let Letisha hang out with them. The next thing she knows, they are all lighting cigarettes. One of the girls holds an open pack in front of Letisha and offers her one. Letisha shakes her head "no," but the girl is insistent. The other girls, including Letisha's sister, join in encouraging her to have one.
This situation is an example of __________.
This is the same situation. Reread it if you need to refresh your memory before answering the question below.
Letisha has a sister who is in the grade ahead of her. Letisha likes it when her sister lets her hang out with her and her friends because at their school it's considered pretty cool to be seen with kids older than you. One afternoon Letisha is at home with the older girls. There are no adults around. The older girls let Letisha hang out with them. The next thing she knows, they are all lighting cigarettes. One of the girls holds an open pack in front of Letisha and offers her one. Letisha shakes her head "no," but the girl is insistent. The other girls, including Letisha's sister, join in encouraging her to have one.
What might Letisha be feeling?
What would you do?
Here are some possibilities. Choose one and see where it takes you.
Your older sister's friends are smoking cigarettes and they want you to try one. Your sister wants you to try one, too. You (choose one)
After saying "no" and changing the subject, you feel (choose one)
After trying a cigarette, you feel (choose one)
After saying "no" and walking away, you feel (choose one)
Based on your feelings, the next time you are in a situation similar to this one, you are likely to (choose one):
Now, move on to the next situation.
Steve likes a particular group of guys because they always spend time together and seem to laugh a lot. They don't socialize much with other students, preferring to spend most of their free time together. Lately, some of them have been talking casually with Steve, and he has expressed to them his interest in becoming a part of their group. The guys tell Steve he can become part of the group but first he has to go down to the neighborhood supermarket and steal one candy bar for each guy.
This situation is an example of ___________.
This is the same situation. Reread it if you need to refresh your memory before answering the question below.
Steve likes a particular group of guys because they always spend time together and seem to laugh a lot. They don't socialize much with other students, preferring to spend most of their free time together. Lately, some of them have been talking casually with Steve, and he has expressed to them his interest in becoming a part of their group. The guys tell Steve he can become part of the group but first he has to go down to the neighborhood supermarket and steal one candy bar for each guy.
What might Steve be feeling?
What would you do?
Here are some possibilities. Choose one and see where it takes you.
Some people you want to be friends with tell you that you can become part of their group, but first you have to go down to the neighborhood supermarket and steal one candy bar for each of them. You (choose one):
You say "no" and explain that you don't want to get caught doing something illegal. You feel (choose one):
After stealing the candy bars, you feel (choose one):
You say "no" and ask the group if they want to come to your place after school for a snack. You feel (choose one):
Based on your feelings, the next time you are in a situation similar to this one, you are likely to (choose one):
Now, move on to the next situation.
Morgan is at a party at an older student's home. The girl's parents are home for a while, but they then go out for the evening. Shortly after, a few students take out a beer from the refrigerator and begin to drink. Soon, several people are drinking. Morgan doesn't want to drink and would like to go home. But she lives too far away from where the party is being held to walk and may have to wait for a ride home.
This situation is an example of ___________.
This is the same situation. Reread it if you need to refresh your memory before answering the question below.
Morgan is at a party at an older student's home. The girl's parents are home for a while, but they then go out for the evening. Shortly after, a few students take out a beer from the refrigerator and begin to drink. Soon, several people are drinking. Morgan doesn't want to drink and would like to go home. But she lives too far away from where the party is being held to walk and may have to wait for a ride home.
What might Morgan be feeling?
What would you do?
Here are some possibilities. Choose one and see where it takes you.
You're at a party at an older student's home when several students start drinking. You don't want to drink and would like to go home, but you live too far away to walk and may have to wait for a ride. You (choose one):
You call or text your parents to ask for a ride, and they say they'll come right away. You feel (choose one):
When you talk to the people at the party who aren't drinking, you feel (choose one):
After accepting a beer when someone hands it to you, you feel (choose one):
Based on your feelings, the next time you are in a situation similar to this one, you are likely to (choose one):
Now, move on to the next situation.
Three of José's friends have gotten their hands on next week's history exam. They offer to show José, but José declines. They warn him no to tell. When the three all get unusually high grades for the test, the teacher is suspicious and asks them if they cheated. They say "no." The teacher then asks the class if any of them have any knowledge of whether these three had an unfair advantage.
This situation is an example of ___________.
This is the same situation. Reread it if you need to refresh your memory before answering the question below.
Three of José's friends have gotten their hands on next week's history exam. They offer to show José, but José declines. They warn him not to tell. When the three all get unusually high grades for the test, the teacher is suspicious and asks them if they cheated. They say "no." The teacher then asks the class if any of them have any knowledge of whether these three had an unfair advantage.
What might José be feeling?
What would you do?
Here are some possibilities. Choose one and see where it takes you.
Three of your friends cheated on a history exam and the teacher is suspicious. The teacher asks the class if anyone has any knowledge of whether your friends had an unfair advantage. You (choose one):
After you don't say anything, just like the rest of the class, you feel (choose one):
After asking a parent or trusted adult what you should do, you feel (choose one):
After you speak to the teacher later that day and explain that you have some knowledge of the situation, you feel (choose one):
Based on your feelings, the next time you are in a situation similar to this one, you are likely to (choose one):
Now, answer this question:
What do you think will really happen if you don't go along with your friends?