is it justifiable to blame things on 'peer pressure'?

Question

alright, so i'm a teenager, there are people all around me smoking, drinking, sleeping around and doing god knows what else ... but not me! in fact, i've a lot of friends who smoke, they've never even bothered to ask me to, and even if they had, i think i'd ditch them - those aren't friends!

do you think people really give in because of 'peer pressure,' or is that some pathetic excuse to be 'cool' or rebellious? can we even blame peers, don't you think the blame falls on US?

Answer 1

I think the choice is always up to us. I think blaming peer pressure is a variation of "the devil made me do it." Whether we make a good or a poor decision, we are always responsible for our own choices --- not our friends.

But I think people misinterpret a friendly offer as peer pressure too and feel more agonizing pressure to fit in than is really required. When I was a teenager all that stuff crossed my path --- people offering drugs, booze, or other bad decisions --- I discovered that politely saying "no, thanks" generally didn't even merit a response except a shrug, and then everybody moving on. I don't remember anyone giving me a hard time, but then, that's probably because I ignored them if they did. :-)

And have you ever noticed how people who are doing things because everyone else is doing it --- look at their expressions --- do they look like they are having a good time to you? Sometimes yes, but sometimes, definitely no.

My yardstick is "do the thing that would make you proud of yourself five years from now." It's a rule that seems to work pretty well. And if it genuinely seems like fun to you, then I guess that decision is up to you too. Just keep the consequences in mind.

Answer 2

Great question!!!! Ultimately, you are responsible for every conscious action you make or do. However, we cannot pretend that peer pressure is a little thing. Peer pressure is very real and can be extremely difficult to overcome if subjected to it all the time. But let me challenge you with this thought....Peer pressure goes both ways, it can be used to influence people to do things that are right or to do things that are wrong. Maybe you should find some friends who hold the same values you do and use the power of peer pressure to influence others to stop doing those things you know are hurting themselves or others. You sound like a very mature person so, continue standing up to what you know is right and find ways to influence others in a positive way.

Answer 3

I don't blame things on peer pressure because I do not answer to it. I do what I want to do and actually have little to no regard for the "popular" thing to do.

Well, in answering your question, I am going to have to say yes and no. A lot of kids are extremely susceptible to peer pressure and will bend to it in a heartbeat. Others will take the whole "doing what one wants" thing too far and blame it on peer pressure. It's kind of a weird answer, I know, but I hope it helps!

Answer 4

Peer pressure is a term that should rightfully be used only in hindsight when studying why people have done what they have done. It is not an excuse nor justification to be used by the perpetrator of the event. One might rightfully presume that peer pressure in this context does not include threats and blackmail.

Answer 5

The blame in one way, is indirectly towards you (us) also because you are in company of people who, drink, smoke and do other immoral things.Yes, many do give in due to peer pressure. I'm a teen myself and I know that many young people smoke just to add to fashion! Well, it's not fashion, you're slowly killing yourself at this point by showing off! And friends often give in due to peer pressure to avoid rejection from the company they are in and thigs like that. Peers are also to be blamed. Well, as I already mentioned we are to be blamed first because we are the one who chose to keep friends like that. I hope you understood what i meant to say. And by the way, I asked u sumthing the other day and you didn't reply to me! Ur a part of my Yahoo! Contacts now. Please reply. Thankyou

Answer 6

Peer pressure is a very influential cause, but it's unfair to blame a person's actions on anything or anyone but themselves.
Let's say a teenager is tempted to drink alcohol. All the marketing makes it sound really cool and exciting and adult; her friends and peers pressure her to do it because it's fun; it seems a way to rebel against the parents and adults who try to restrict her; American society makes it seem like a teenage rite of passage; and so on. There are a lot of things influencing her to do it... but ultimately, SHE is the one who allows those things to influence her, SHE is the one who picks up the bottle, SHE is the one who decides to put the drink to her lips. Ultimately, you can't blame any but yourself for your actions.

However, in the case of children and teenagers, this isn't always so clear-cut. Children can't always be blamed for their actions, simply because they have not yet developed the mental capacity to realize that their actions have consequences, nor do they always have control over their actions. To a lessor degree, this is also true of teenagers - as much as they want to be treated like adults, they aren't always capable of acting like adults yet.

So the focus should be on helping teens to make up their own minds - not looking for outside spacegoats to take the blame.

Answer 7

Well, congratulations, girl... or guy... well... anyone who exhibits the attitude you have!!! And to your parents for teaching to you think for yourself, respect yourself, and be independant... it will serve you well in your life.

Peer pressure can be an excuse for rebellious behavior if someone doesn't want to take responsibility for one's behavior. It can also be an excuse for someone who cannot think for themselves, and make decisions for themselves, so they "leave it up to others" to dictate what to do. But it can also be a pathetic excuse to be "cool" for people like yourselves, who have grown up to be intelligent young people who respect themselves and think that the pressure others put on them is not something to live one's life by.

This does not mean that there are no "standards" that society shares and that one should live by and aspire to, but usually "Peer Pressure" is used to excuse bad behavior.

Again, congratulations to you and your parents on raising a person with a head on their shoulders, and knows what is right and wrong, and respects themselves too much to fall for the weak excuses of others who try to tear you down to their level.

Have a great day, and life!

Answer 8

I think peer pressure is a powerful persuader. It is difficult to go against the grain of the majority, especially when people are at a time in their lives where they want to be one of the crowd (in spite of teens saying they want to be individuals, they really want to be one of *their* crowd). But it's not much different than other temptations people of all ages encounter; it's simply one of the first of many.

Regardless of the power of peer pressure, the bottom line for responsibility stills lies with the individual, because at some point in the mental struggle, we made an individual decision to cave in or to stand firm. Peer pressure is a strong influencer, but we as individuals are always responsible for our own actions.

Answer 9

NO.

If you give into peer pressure, it means your parents did not raise you right. If they had, you would have the self assurance and guts to say "NO" to your friends when they try to get you to do something you know is wrong or unhealthy.

Unless you are stupid. Then it is not your parents fault as they did not have much to work with.

Answer 10

You were raised really well and you should be proud of yourself. Not everyone is as strong willed as you are. I personally never smoked, did drugs, I did have sex but not with many people as a teen. My brother never did any of the above but he is and was easily infulced by friends. He wanted to be liked and to fit in not to the extent of breaking the law but to break my parents rules. His friends would pri and prod for him to stay out and he would even though he new better. I would go home and make it home by out curfew but I had a stronger will.