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.
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