The period of maximum group pressure is probably during adolescent years, from seventh through twelfth grades in school. During those years the strongest motivational force on the average teen is not to please parents. It is to please friends, to be accepted by peers.
Peer pressure may subside in later life, but it definitely does not cease. A housewife and mother may be tempted to lie about her family so they will be accepted. A business man may give in to social activities or business practices that are against his conscience, just so he won't be left out of the inner circle, or branded an outcast.
Temptations associated with peer pressure can be extreme. Giving in to these temptations brings weakness and even eternal death. Standing fast brings strength and leads toward life everlasting.
Romans 12:2 "Don't let the world around squeeze you into its own mold..."
(This post first appeared on another blogsite that is now defunct).
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3 comments:
Not sure if this applies to this post, exactly, but children today along with peer pressure also face "cyber bullying." It involves other kids posting and spreading rumors via Facebook and Myspace and within seconds their entire school sees these rumors. It's pretty awful. The kids I talked to say that whispering rumors in school, only 10-20 people hear about it, but posting it on the internet, thousands from all sorts of different schools read about you.
Random comment to make, I know, but your post made me think about it!
The blessings of the internet are diminished by those who misuse it. It is always so.
How do we deal with this in the big picture? I don't think legislation will curtail the problem very much
Colleen brings up a good point, doesn't she? The internet really just increases the way we can put pressure on one another.
For what it is worth, I am not entirely sure peer pressure diminishes with age. It might become more subtle, but that almost makes it worse.
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