Peer Pressure 1

Running Head: PEER PRESSURE

Effects of Peer Pressure to Ones Self Esteem

Aileen Joyce E. Ngilangil
Charie Mari C. Bello
Nathalie Joy T. Gagtan
Saint Louis College

Mr. Al Gerald S. Barde

English IV
St. Teresa of Avila
November 20, 2013

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I.
Introduction
A. Definition of Key Terms
1. Peer pressure
2. Self-esteem
B. Problems
1. Global Teenagers being pressured in drinking
alcohol, smoking, doing drugs, engaging in pre-marital
sex (PMS)
2. National Barkada: Culture of Filipino friendships
II.
Presentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of Data
A. Types
1. Direct Negative
2. Unspoken Indirect
3. Positive
B. Effects of Peer Pressure
1. Negative
2. Positive
III.
Conclusions and Recommendations: The effects of peer
pressure is depended

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Abstract
Peer pressure is one of the problems teenagers encounter in
their everyday lives. And with this, their self-esteem is also affected. For
this reason, this study was conducted to determine the effects of peer
pressure to ones self-esteem. Data were gathered through library and
online research. As a result, we have concluded that although it is
common knowledge that peer pressure has bad effects on a teenagers
self-esteem, it still is a positive factor in boosting ones self-confidence by
being with the right peer group.

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Introduction
Teenage years are crucial to ones life for they constitute the time
for self-development, where the thin line between maturities and
immaturities is blurred and ones identity is yet to be defined. This is the
time where confusion sinks in and perspective about life changes. This is
the time when teenagers do many things and actions that satisfy their
curiosity and at the same time answer their questions. Some questions
like Should I do this?, What should I do?, and How will I do it? are
raised.

With the help of their friends, these questions are answered

through a decision that would satisfy them also.

Therefore, peer pressure is present during these years.
Peer pressure is [the] influence that a peer group, observers or
individual

exerts

that

encourages

others

to

change

their attitudes, values, or behaviors to conform [to] the group norms (as
cited in wikepedia.org)

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Peer pressure weighs heavily on the self-esteem of a person,
especially a teenager. For this reason, it cannot be ignored as a factor of a
teenagers development.
There are many definitions of self-esteem that are very cohesive to
one another. Some of these are the following:
Vanstone (2009) explains that self-esteem is a persons own
evaluation of themselves physiologically, emotionally, physically, and
spiritually. It is a persons assessment of his own actions and words.
Brandstone (1969) states that Self-esteem occurs in conjunction
with a person's thoughts, behaviors, feelings and actions.
Self-esteem is the way one perceives and considers himself (Selfesteem, 2003).
As a more comprehensive definition, Self-esteem is an over-all
observation of ones well-being in the different aspects of life through
their thoughts, behaviors, feelings and actions.
According to these reputable authors, several desirable factors
could affect a persons self-esteem.

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Crocker and Wolfe (2001) aver that a person could enjoy a high
self-esteem depending on his being smart and attractive, while another
person could base his self-esteem on his having good moral character (as
cited in Myers, 2005, p.62).
On the other hand, Brown and Dutton (1994) believe that in
general, people with high self-esteem are more likely to value their looks,
abilities, and the like (as cited in Myers, 2005, p.64).
However, studies show that self-esteem is lowered by rejection in
society, making people more determined to gain acceptance (Myers,
2005).
Leary believes that ones feelings toward his self-esteem are like a
fuel gauge, for surviving and thriving is empowered by relationships (as
cited in Myers, 2005, p.64). Therefore, Myers (2005) concludes that the
self-esteem gauge signifies the need for public approval since it motivates
our self-esteem.
There are many global peer pressure problems that were stated in
Randolphs article. According to him, many teens are pressured in doing
drugs, drinking alcohol, smoking, and engaging in pre-marital sex.
Statistics show that approximately 74% of high school students have

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tried alcohol, and of those students who have tried alcohol, nearly 32%
tried alcohol before age 13. Meanwhile, Nearly 3.1 million teenagers
smoke and 25% of 17-18 year olds smoke regularly. On the other hand,
nearly 50% of teenagers between the ages of 12-17 felt pressured to have
sex, and 4 million teens are infected with STD every year.
Correa (2012) deals in her article about the culture of Filipino
friendships called barkada. A barkada is like an extended family; each
person in the group knows every good or bad side each member has, but
still manages to accept each one of them. However, having a barkada can
also be bad because of the presence of peer pressure.
Every barkada seeks to establish that what one has, everyone
needs to have. Where one goes, everyone follows. One for all, all for one
as they say (Tulfo, 2013). Most Filipino teenagers tend to follow the
trends existing in their barkada in order to gain acceptance. If they fail to
do so, they might get rejected by their barkada, and their self-esteem will
suffer.
Peer pressure pushes many Filipino teenagers to join rebellious
gangs, abuse alcohol and/or drug intake, engage in pre-marital sex
(PMS), and many more.

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II.

Presentation, Analysis, and Interpretation of Data

According to Randolph (2011) there are three (3) types of peer

pressure: Direct negative, indirect unspoken, and positive.
Direct negative peer pressure is a direct and spoken type of
pressure which puts the individual on the spot, with no time to think of
an answer besides Yes or No (Randolph, 2011). For example, a group
of very studious and conservative students was asked to go to a party by
their friends to have fun and be liberated. If this group declines the offer
made by their friends, they might get rejected by their peers for being
lame or uncool. On the other hand, if this group accepts the offer
made by their friends, this group will look cool and fun making them
one of the cool kids. Randolph also said, That's the problem with the
society today, teenagers will say Yes to things they make not agree with
or feel comfortable doing because all they want to do is be like everyone
else.
Indirect peer pressure is another type of peer pressure in which
teenagers are greatly influenced by peers without any communications
happening between them (Kanhere, 2011). This is the type of peer
pressure where what one sees and hears is what one does. It makes

Peer Pressure 9
teenagers follow the trends for they want to blend with the crowd.
Indirect peer pressure can be positive and negative. The common thing
between these two is that the teenager decides to do this because the
others are doing it. It somehow affects ones self-esteem for the reason
that in this world, acceptance is a must. Teenagers feel that if theyre not
in the flow of the trend, they might be called outcast or worse, be bullied
because theyre different.
On the other hand, peer pressure is not always on the bad side.
It has also a positive side. Randolph (2011) states that Positive Peer
Pressure is exactly what the name suggests. It is the good kind of peer
pressure, the kind people wants to be involved in. It is hearing and
viewing people doing something positive and encouraging others to do
the same, such as getting good grades, being asked to join a club/group,
or participating in volunteer work.
Take for example this scenario: this teenager has a peer group.
Now, that teenagers peer group decides to join a local tournament. The
peer group asks the teenagers approval of joining that activity. The
teenager is pressured to make a decision to join because the group
invited that teenager. The teenager agreed and joins the tournament. Not

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only did that teenager helped that teenagers peer group to fill the
membership but also establishes a bond with them.
Peer pressure is always deemed as a threat or the bad side of
having friends for it causes many problems in teenagers daily lives.
Teenagers today face absurd and stressful problems in school that leads
them to be depressed. Bilsker et al. (n.d.) defines depression as an
extreme low mood that lasts a long time and makes teenagers sad,
irritable and empty .Stress is the main reason of depression and peer
pressure can cause it for these two reasons:
First, teenagers do not want to be indifferent for the fact that they
might be bullied or be called names. Therefore, they tend to follow the
trends of their friends in order to be in the norm. They pretend to be
someone they are not and it adds to the stress in school (exams,
homeworks, etc.).
Second, teenagers want to meet the high standards their friends
set in order to be in the circle. These high standards require the
teenagers to exert high quality effort just to be accepted in the group.
This case adds a large amount of stress in their stress bank and makes

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them feel miserable for they have to maintain their grades and their
facade with their friends.
Peer pressure becomes positive when it is affecting ones behavior,
attitude, and values in a good way. Since the urge to belong to a peer
group is all about feeling included and accepted, there is also this
natural tendency to behave and become like other members of a peer
group (Peer pressure, n.d.). For example, an introvert teenager has a
group of friends who are always participating in school organizations.
Because the teenagers friends are always encouraging that teenager to
join in the clubs that they are also in, that person will now join in those
clubs and meet other people that are easy to get along with.

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III.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Peer pressure is said to be one of the common problems that

teenagers are facing nowadays. It may lead one to experience depression
because of rejection. In order for an individual to avoid rejection, one has
to conform to the group where that person belongs to. This can even
resort to more serious problems like excessive drinking of alcohol,
abusive cigarette smoking, illegal drug use, and engaging in pre-marital
sex (PMS) at a young age.
However, peer pressure may still have positive effects to ones selfesteem. It can improve ones academic performance and involvement or
participation in school activities, for they are motivated by their peers
who excel in their studies. An introverted individual may find excitement
in being with a company of extroverted people.
For these reasons, peer pressure can affect the self-esteem of
teenagers both negatively and positively depending on the type of peers
one has and the mindset of that indvdual.
With all these in mind, it is a must for teenagers to carefully pick
the peers that they intend to belong in order for them to receive positive
influences that can boost their self-esteem.

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Reference List
A teachers guide to peer pressure. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2013,
from http://www. cedu.niu.edu/~shumow/itt/doc/
PeerPressure.pdf
Bilsker, D. et al. (n.d.). Dealing with depression. Retrieved December 5
2013,

from

http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/mental_health/

pdf/dwd_writable.pdf
Boost your self-esteem for adults and teens. (n.d.). Retrieved November
16,

2013,

from

http://www.scribd.com/doc/31911391/Boost

Your-Self-Esteem-for-Adults-and-Teens
Correa, M. C. (2012) Barkada: A Filipino friendship. Retrieved November
22, 2013 from http://blog.aseankorea.org/archives/13226
Developing

self-esteem

November

16,

and

positive

2013,

from

aca111/SelfEsteem.pdf

attitude.

(2013).

Retrieved

http://www.mayland.edu/

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Effects of peer pressure. (n.d.). Retrieved December 5, 2013, from
http://www.indiaparenting.com/peer-pressure-inteenagers/
525_4950/effects-of-peer-pressure.html#
Guzman, M. R. T. (2007, August). Friendships, peer influence, and peer
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g1751.pdf
Howard, N. (2004, May). Peer influence in relation to academic
performance and socialization among adolescents: A literature
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uwstout.edu/content/lib/thesis/2004/ 2004howardn.pdf
Jenuhh0. (2008, March 17). Peer pressure: The effects on teenagers.
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matters.org/node/8625
Branden, N. (1969). The psychology of self-esteem. United States: Bantam
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Kanhere, A. M. (2011). Types of peer pressure. Retrieved November 22,
2013, from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/types-of-peer
pressure.html

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King, T. (2003). Your attitude your self-esteem. Retrieved November 16,
2013, from http://www.free-ebooks.net/ebook/
Your-Attitude-Your-Self-Esteem
Myers, D. G. (2005). Social Psychology. New York: Mcgraw-hill.
Peer pressure. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2013, from http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer_pressure
Randolph, K. (2011). Peer pressure: An increasing danger around the
world. Retrieved November 16, 2013, from http://www.shelbyville
dailyunion.com/shelbyville_high_school/x333447108/Peer
Pressure-An-Increasing-Danger-Around-the-World-Peer-Pressure
An Increasing-Danger-Around-the-World
Tulfo, R. (2013). Sino ba talaga ang nasusunod, barkada o magulang?
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/sino-ba-talaga-ang-nasusunod-barkada-o-magulang/

Vanstone, J. D. (2009). 10 great ways to self-esteem. Retrieved November

16, 2013, from http://www.thinkandfeelbetter.com/ ?
s=self+esteem

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