Peer pressure has a bad reputation as it has been largely used in the negative context.
Among the youths, peer pressure is a well discussed topic where it receives mostly negative perceptions due to negative social pressure and habits among the youths.
Previously, SarawakYES! has discussed the negative impact of peer pressure and what the youths can do to handle it.
However, peer pressure is not all bad as there is a good side to it too. And depending on how you look at it, peer pressure can have positive influence on the youths. Here are some ways peer pressure can be beneficial for you:
Letting go of bad habits
Peer pressure is all about following the crowd and if steered the right way, it can help you adopt good habits.
Try to think of a time when a friend pressured you into doing something good for yourself or avoid something bad.
For instance, if your close friends are adopting healthy habits such as exercising regularly or following a healthy diet, you will also be encouraged to pick up the same habit.
Positive peer pressure can help you reflect on your actions and amend your ways by letting go of bad habits and pick up good ones.
A great motivator
Sometimes, you just need a good push to encourage yourself to do something that you are not brave enough to do. And this is where peer pressure will come in handy as it can also be a powerful motivator.
When you observe your classmates studying hard in class, you will naturally feel pressured to do the same so that you can perform better in your studies.
Whether it is the classroom or working space, peer pressure can actually motivate you to perform at peak level.
In a team or group environment, everyone is expected to perform their best and this will naturally make the poorer performers step up or risk falling behind others.
Shaping good personality
The youths are more susceptible to the influence from their peers or the crowd as they want to fit in or feel a sense of belonging.
For the youths, your peers play an important role in shaping your personality as well as influencing your way of looking at life and how you make choices.
Peer pressure can help you analyse and contemplate your ways of thinking. And if you are fortunate to get a good peer group, they may actually persuade you whether directly or indirectly to bring a constructive change in your personality to be a better person.
This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! – an initiative driven by Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd and supported by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak – to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
This article first appeared on The Borneo Post, visit this link: http://bit.ly/2EysM8z
Photo by Helena Lopes from Pexels.
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