Author: Kstiegler

Peer Pressure

Peer Pressure: The Basics

Peers are any persons or group of people who have a close but general relationship to one another. For instance, people of a similar age group, people in the same circle of friends, people in the same class, people in the same counseling group, people in the same volunteer group, people at the same workplace, people in the same family, etc. In order for a group to be considered a "peer group" we look for one or more of these commonalities.
Peer pressure is more than just a phase that young people go through. Whether it leads to pink hair or body piercing, peer pressure is a powerful reality and many adults do not realize its effects. It can be a negative force in the lives of children and adolescents, often resulting in their experimentation with tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs.
Parents often believe that their children do not value their opinions. In reality, studies suggest that parents have tremendous influence over their children, especially teenagers. No matter the age of their children, parents and caregivers should never feel helpless about countering the negative effects of peer pressure.
Pressures are a normal part of life and children need guidance from their teachers, parents and other adults so that they are able to handle these pressures in a positive way.

Postive vs Negative Peer Pressure

Peer pressure may be a positive influence and help to challenge or motivate us to do our best. Peer pressure may also result in one acting in a way that may not fit with his/her sense of what is right and wrong.

Positive Peer Pressure- Is often overlooked but does exist and may be described as an influence to do what is right.
Studying
Volunteering
Befriending someone
Community Service

Negative Peer Pressure- Is often dangerous and against school rules, home rules and personal values.
Skipping school
Vandalizing
Smoking
Sneaking out of the house
Bullying
Disrespecting authority
Sex

Several studies confirm research findings that the values of the peer group with whom the high school student spends the most time are a stronger factor in the student's level of academic success than the values, attitudes, and support provided by the family. Compared to others who started high school with the same grades, students whose families were not especially supportive, but who spent time with an academically oriented peer group, got better grades. Those students whose families stressed academics, but who spent time with peers whose orientation was not toward academic excellence, performed less well.
Specifically, African American students whose families tended to be highly involved in and supportive of education were subjected to intense peer pressure not to perform well academically. According to one study, strong African American peer groups associated the activities of studying and spending time at the library with "white" behavior. They promoted the idea that students who got good grades, participated in school activities, or spoke standard English were betraying their racial heritage and community. Consequently, gifted African American students felt external pressure to "dumb-down" in order to fit in or to find a different group of peers who valued academic achievement. Research suggests that this type of peer pressure contributes to a decline in the grades of African American students (especially males) as early as the first through fourth grades.

Strategies to help kids deal:

Relinquish the stereotype of peers as a uniformly negative influence on youth.
Nurture children's' abilities and self-esteem so they can forge positive peer relationships.
Encourage cross-ethnic and "cross-class" peer interactions and guide children in dealing positively with cultural diversity and individual differences.
Support parent education programs for families with children and adolescents.
Establish intervention programs for preadolescents with low social skills or aggressive tendencies.

Some traits in children that make them susceptible to peer pressure:
Low self esteem
Lack of confidence
Uncertainty about ones place within a given peer
group
No personal interests exclusive of one's peer
group
Feeling isolated from peers and/or family
Lack of direction in life
Depression
Eating disorders
Poor academic abilities

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You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients.
If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing.
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Peer Pressure

This story can fit 150-200 words.
One benefit of using your newsletter as a promotional tool is that you can reuse content from other marketing materials, such as press releases, market studies, and reports.
While your main goal of distributing a newsletter might be to sell your product or service, the key to a successful newsletter is making it useful to your readers.
A great way to add useful content to your newsletter is to develop and write your own articles, or include a calendar of upcoming events or a special offer that promotes a new product.
You can also research articles or find “filler” articles by accessing the World Wide Web. You can write about a variety of topics but try to keep your articles short.
Much of the content you put in your newsletter can also be used for your Web site. Microsoft Publisher offers a simple way to convert your newsletter to a Web publication. So, when you’re finished writing your newsletter, convert it to a Web site and post it.

This story can fit 75-125 words.
Selecting pictures or graphics is an important part of adding content to your newsletter.
Think about your article and ask yourself if the picture supports or enhances the message you’re trying to convey. Avoid selecting images that appear to be out of context.
Microsoft Publisher includes thousands of clip art images from which you can choose and import into your newsletter. There are also several tools you can use to draw shapes and symbols.
Once you have chosen an image, place it close to the article. Be sure to place the caption of the image near the image.

This story can fit 100-150 words.
The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field.
You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients.
If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing.
Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.