PEER PRESSURE CONCERNING LOW SELF ESTEEM

Having low self-esteem can often put a teenager in the position of being susceptible to peer pressure. Self-esteem is generally regarded as being an appraisal of one’s overall self-worth and those who typically have a low appraisal of themselves may find themselves prone to relenting to the pressure of their fellow peers. Teenagers with low self-esteem tend to focus on the negative aspects of themselves as opposed to the more positive qualities of their personalities. They generally have very little regard for themselves and will often feel unworthy of being loved and accepted by others. A teenager with low self-esteem may end up making his or her self-esteem contingent upon a particular set of circumstances such as success in school or an activity of some sorts. Their self-esteem becomes contingent on the success or failure that they experience in what it is they are putting all their efforts into.

The teen with low self-esteem finds him or herself particularly vulnerable to the pressure that peers will so often apply to them. Their self-esteem (or lack thereof) will in many cases ensure that they cannot properly combat this pressure. Take for example, a teenager with low self-esteem that belongs to a group of friends. This teen’s self-esteem may very well be contingent upon how he or she feels that the group views them. Unfortunately, without the foundation of positive regard for oneself, the teenager finds him or herself being in the unenviable position of constantly trying to prove themselves to the other members. The lines between what is right and wrong may become blurred as the teenager with low self-esteem may find themselves doing things that they otherwise would not have done just to gain the approval of the group. For the most part, the focus here is on legal activities such as dressing a certain way, hanging out with certain people as opposed to hanging out with others, or behaving in a certain way that is acceptable according to the group. However, there are cases in which the teen with low self-esteem will participate in illegal activities just to gain further acceptance.

Having low self-esteem can overshadow their better judgment in these cases because their self-esteem is so reliant on what the group thinks of them. Female teens may find themselves in situations in which they give in to otherwise unwanted sexual advances but lack of the self-esteem to say no. Other behaviors such as drug or alcohol use or in some cases, committing crimes are often carried out by both males and females alike because they are so willing to please others in order to be accepted and feel better about themselves. The teen with low self-esteem simply does not have the belief in him or herself to call their own activities into question. They might feel so strongly about belonging to a particular peer group that they are willing to do just about anything to join it or remain in it.

It can be assumed that this type of person can find him or herself being taken advantage of quite often within the group. The stronger personalities of the group may be able to spot this person’s lack of self-esteem and play to it for their own ends. Knowing that they can successfully manipulate the person or convince them of something with little to no resistance will almost assuredly lead them to do it again and again. At the same time, the teenager with low self-esteem will constantly be put to the test and will most likely willingly accept whatever it is that they are being told whether it is to adopt a certain way of thinking or to actively do something. Their self-worth depends on their place in the group. Perhaps to the point where it will decrease even further should they no longer find themselves as being a member.

The way to combat this would be to work on the teenager’s self-esteem and try to stress that it doesn’t have to be related so much to the way others perceive them as much as it is to how they perceive themselves. It is important for a teen with low self-esteem to be able to focus on the positive aspects of their lives. It is necessary to remind the teen that they are a worthy individual and that they don’t have to go out of their way to impress others in order to feel better about themselves. The key is to build a foundation within the teenager that allows them to feel good about themselves. In other words, if you help the teen feel better about themselves and help them deal more successfully with their shortcomings they won’t find themselves in the position where they have to validate their self-worth by proving themselves to others. It’s almost as if you are fine-tuning their sense of individuality. A person who believes in themselves and realizes that they possess positive qualities will be more equipped to recognize instances in which they may be facing peer pressure.

It is important to ensure that the mindset of the teen shifts from negative thinking to a more positive, accepting regard for themselves. When this shift occurs the teenager will have a backbone on which to draw from when peer pressure surfaces. They will feel more worthy and in turn, face it with more confidence. No longer will they have to give in to what others are telling them because they will have the awareness of knowing that their self-worth as an individual doesn’t have to be dependent on the opinions of others.