This article was co-authored by Peggy Rios, PhD. Dr. Peggy Rios is a Counseling Psychologist based in Florida. With over 24 years of experience, Dr. Rios works with people struggling with psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression. She specializes in medical psychology, weaving together behavioral health programs informed by empowerment theory and trauma treatment. Dr. Rios uses integrated, evidence-based models to provide support and therapy for people with life-altering medical conditions. She holds an MS and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Rios is a licensed psychologist in the state of Florida.
There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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If you feel pressured by people to do things you're uncomfortable doing, there are lots of ways to respond. Be prepared to deal with peer pressure by having a response ready. Avoid places where people do illegal activities or other things you feel uncomfortable around. Lean on people for support, like your friends, family, or a therapist.
Ways to Cope with Peer Pressure
- Change the subject when someone is pressuring you.
- Make an excuse to leave if you’re uncomfortable.
- Plan a response ahead of time.
- Avoid places or situations where peer pressure is common.
- Choose to hang out with different friends.
- Journal about your feelings.
- Confide in another friend or parent about what’s going on.
Steps
Sample Scenario and Responses
Expert Q&A
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QuestionAre there anyways to prevent peer pressure?Peggy Rios, PhDDr. Peggy Rios is a Counseling Psychologist based in Florida. With over 24 years of experience, Dr. Rios works with people struggling with psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression. She specializes in medical psychology, weaving together behavioral health programs informed by empowerment theory and trauma treatment. Dr. Rios uses integrated, evidence-based models to provide support and therapy for people with life-altering medical conditions. She holds an MS and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Rios is a licensed psychologist in the state of Florida.
Counseling PsychologistAbsolutely! I think the best thing you can do to keep this from being a problem is to make friends with a bunch of different people. I think peer pressure is a really big deal if you only have one friend group, because the stakes are higher if they pressure you into something and you have to leave them. But if you can leave one friend group and just go to another friend group, the stakes aren't as high. -
QuestionHow can teens get over peer pressure?Peggy Rios, PhDDr. Peggy Rios is a Counseling Psychologist based in Florida. With over 24 years of experience, Dr. Rios works with people struggling with psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression. She specializes in medical psychology, weaving together behavioral health programs informed by empowerment theory and trauma treatment. Dr. Rios uses integrated, evidence-based models to provide support and therapy for people with life-altering medical conditions. She holds an MS and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Rios is a licensed psychologist in the state of Florida.
Counseling PsychologistAs a teenager, your friend group is going to be fairly reasonable in most situations. You may be perceiving certain pressures to do something, but if you turn down them down and you're polite, I feel like the vast majority of teens will be perfectly okay with that. -
QuestionWhat is an example of peer pressure?Klare Heston, LCSWKlare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).
Licensed Social WorkerFor example, when your friends want to drink at a party where the parents clearly stated there is to be no alcohol, but others say something like, "Hey, everyone will having something--you can't party without at least some beer." You might feel conflicted because you want to fit in, but also want to comply with the parents' request.
Video
Tips
References
- ↑ http://www.yourlifecounts.org/blog/20-ways-avoid-peer-pressure
- ↑ http://www.greatschools.org/parenting/behavior-discipline/3654-5-steps-resist-peer-pressure.gs
- ↑ http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/peer-pressure.html#
- ↑ Peggy Rios, PhD. Counseling Psychologist. Expert Interview. 18 December 2020.
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-health-benefits-of-journaling/
- ↑ Peggy Rios, PhD. Counseling Psychologist. Expert Interview. 18 December 2020.
- ↑ http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/peer-pressure.html#
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-management.htm
- ↑ Peggy Rios, PhD. Counseling Psychologist. Expert Interview. 18 December 2020.
About This Article
To deal with peer pressure, make eye contact and say "no" firmly to show that you're not willing to compromise. You can also change the subject or make an excuse to leave if you feel uncomfortable. Try to avoid going places where it's likely you'll be pressured into something you don't want to do, and consider finding a new group of friends if the pressure continues. Remember that it's totally okay to say "no" if you don't want to do something, and confide in a friend, parent, or counselor if you're struggling to deal with the situation. For more tips on finding a support system, read on!
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