consequences of negative peer pressure by eguriase s. m. okaka

Consequences of negative peer pressure By Eguriase S. M. Okaka Peer pressure is a social pressure exerted by members of one’s peer group to take a specific action, adopt particular values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted. Almost every youth has experienced peer pressure at one time or the other in their life. Peer pressure can be either negative or positive. Positive peer pressure comprises doing physical exercise, playing football or other sports, joining a vocational club or a charity organization to help the needy. There are three kinds of peer pressure: direct, indirect and individual. Direct pressure occurs when a teenager or a group of teenagers tells another teenager what to do. Indirect pressure is optical pressure. This happens when a teenager hangs out with a group of friends who drink liquor or smoke marijuana. Having been exposed to this kind of negative practice, the teenager may think it is okay.

Individual peer pressure occurs when a teenager struggles hard to do some things because others are doing them. For instance, it may be in vogue for girls to wear dresses that expose parts of their body which are usually kept covered. A teenager may see this practice as the norm and choose to dress in a nasty way. This teenager may feel insecure if she does not follow the latest fashion trend. Many youths get involved in smoking, drinking and doing drugs as a consequence of negative peer pressure. Smoking is an addictive act leading to lung cancer. Drugs can destroy brain cells. Along with these is alcoholism which is also addictive. Alcoholism changes the lives of drinkers and affects many organs of the body including the liver. Another terrible consequence of negative peer pressure is premarital sex. Many girls feel insecure and rejected, among peers when they declare that they are virgins. Pressure from corrupt peers often leads to teenager sex. When this becomes a normal way of life, some graduate to prostitution, thereby shattering their academic and moral aspirations. Greed also sets in because of the desire for more money. Sexually transmitted diseases follow: as many girls and boys are infected by HIV/AIDS or syphilis. Sometimes, unwanted pregnancies punctuate the schooling of many girls thereby cutting short their academic ambition. Boy teenagers drop out of school if they happen to be rusticated for being members of secret cults. Comprehension questions  Explain and exemplify the three different forms of peer pressure.  In two sentences of your own, describe peer pressure.  According to the passage, why do many teenagers fall victim of negative peer pressure?  Give two examples of positive peer pressure.  Explain some consequences of negative peer pressure on girls.  How does negative peer pressure affect boys?  Explain what optical peer pressure mean. Eguria.blogspot.com