definition essay!!! HELP!!!

Peer pressure comprises a set of group dynamics whereby a group of people in which one feels comfortable may override the personal habits, individual moral inhibitions or idiosyncratic desires to impose a group norm of attitudes or behaviors.

It requires members to conform to the overall value of the group. These reference groups are sometimes referred to as membership groups, when the individual is "formally" a member (of, for example, a political party or trade union). Individuals may also have aspiration groups (social cliques, say, such as yuppies) to which they would like to belong. They may also recognize dissociative groups with which they would not wish to associate (thus drinkers may go to great lengths to avoid being associated with lager louts). This peer pressure can sometimes be used to great effect by marketers. If they can sway the few opinion leaders in the reference group they will capture the whole group.

Peer pressure appears also in some professions, one example often given is about financial analysts that tend to have common opinions and tend to privilege buy recommendations. Also scientific paradigms are difficult to change because of common mental commitments of most scientists in a given field.




Youth Peer Pressure
An example of peer pressure is classrooms seats -- in many schools, even though seats for students are not assigned they are still "claimed" by certain students, and sitting in that person's seat would be considered an insult to that person. Even though there is no rule against sitting in another student's seat, it would nonetheless cause peer pressure.

The phrase Peer Pressure often carries a negative connotation, in particular as it relates to adolescents being persuaded to partake in potentially harmful behavior usually disapproved of by parents, such as drug use (alcohol included), and skipping school. Although the causes of such events are hotly debated, peer pressure is also considered by many to be the root cause of several recent tragedies in the United States involving young people.

However, Peer Pressure can also have positive effects. If one is in a group of friends that are ambitious and working to succeed, one might feel pressured to follow suit, as to not feel excluded from the group. Therefore, the youth would be pressured into improving their self, bettering them in the long run. This is most commonly seen in youth that are active in sports or other extracurricular activities.

Teens with drug abuse in the family are more likely to fall under peer pressure.

Finanical Peer Presssure
(Conspicuous Consumption)
Another example of peer pressure is in perceived financial status, which usually occurs in adulthood. Many adults feel as though they must attain a certain level of wealth and financial success to keep up with their peers, whereas this may not be required at all in order to live a secure, content and comfortable life. Often this motivates people to increase their perceived (i.e. by their peers) financial status as-opposed to their real financial status, by doing things like buying or renting expensive vehicles, clothes, houses, electronic appliances, which usually are detrimental to their real financial status. Additionally, one may feel pressured to achieve better real financial status as well, and may act upon this by making risky decisions like a change of job.