Exploratory Essay

Brianna Armstrong

English 2- Block 1

McKoy

11 September, 2013

The Powerful Touch of Peer Pressure

            Look around you, are you friends with the right people? Do you feel that the beneficial peer pressure can outweigh the harmful peer pressure? Did you know that now all peer pressure can be negative? How does peer pressure influence you? From being around my friends, I have witnessed several things from them that I would never consider doing. Admittedly, they have influenced me, in both positive and negative ways. However, the good has outweighed the bad. I say this because no matter where I am, or who my friends are, somehow they will end up influencing me. It is my responsibility to pick and choose who my friends are. Beneficially, my peers have pressured me in a positive way, no matter who they are.

            When someone your age tries to influence how you act and get you to do something it is called peer pressure. As Kevin J. Took stated in his article, Dealing with Peer Pressure, “Its only human nature to listen and learn from other people in your age group”. Which is basically saying that as we get older and experience more, we cannot help but to give in to what people think or say, even if we agree or not. Through my research I have discovered that there is such a thing as positive peer pressure. For example, confidence is a big aspect of living and being successful in life. Not many people have that trait. Therefore, many peers who see that their friends lack that trait of confidence, and they feel that it is holding them back from achieving in like, they will make an effort to push them back on the right track. Included in the article was information about the difference between positive and negative peer pressure among teens. It based thoughts of a teenager’s mind and how they are influenced be peer pressure. Throughout the article, I effectively connected the facts and background information with the things that I have experienced in my life, resulting into the writing of this essay.

From the time when I was younger to now, my parents always reminded to be around people who have similar goals and dreams that I do. By researching this issue further, I feel that many people will focus on positive peer pressure and not just the negative. Soon, I will be able to effectively conclude my research question on a higher level. The question is, “Can beneficial peer pressure outweigh the harmful peer pressure?” Meaning, is the power and impact of positive peer pressure able to outdo negative peer pressure. Furthering my research can help others, including myself, to understand my question and topic in a very different way.