72 When you have a problem, do you prefer talking to your friends or your parents? Have you ever done something you didn t want to do just because a friend of yours asked you to do it? PEER PRESSURE The peer group Peers are people of the same age with interests similar to yours. As teenagers become more independent, and as school and other activities take adolescents away from home, they spend more time with peers than with their parents and siblings. Teenagers will probably develop close friendships with some of their peers, and they will feel so connected to them that they are like an extended family. good examples, they can encourage you to do your best, they listen to you, give you feedback and advice, and empathise with you. Negative peer pressure However, sometimes, peers may pressure teens into doing something they are uncomfortable with, such as shoplifting, trying drugs, drinking, or taking dangerous risks. The pressure to conform, to do what others are doing, can be powerful and hard to resist. Identifying with peers It is natural to identify and compare with one s peers. Adolescents are influenced by peers because they want to fit in, be like others they admire, do what they are doing, or have what others have. As we have said, teen years can be difficult: teens try to understand who they are, what they believe in, what they are good at, what their responsibilities are, and where their place in the world is, so it is easy to understand how comforting the idea may be of facing these challenges with friends their own age. ONLINE RESOURCES Toxic friends: when friendship is no longer healthy 150 ADOLESCENTS Positive peer pressure Peers have a positive influence on each other and play important roles in each other s lives. Among peers you can find friendship and acceptance, they can set How to resist peer pressure The first step to learning how to deal with peer pressure is to build a strong sense of healthy self-esteem. When someone builds their self-confidence and believes in themselves, they do not need to impress other people or do what others say to feel good or accepted. It is important to always have respect for oneself and know one s own limits when dealing with peer influence or pressure. to fit in: conformarsi a shoplifting: furto in un negozio sibling: fratello o sorella