How to Resist Peer Pressure

Can you say 'no' to a group if you really believe no? Are you able to express your own opinions even if they conflict with 'group consensus?'

Peer pressure has been responsible for some of the worst atrocities in history. It has led to countless millions taking up smoking and then being killed by it.

Peer pressure swamps you in the herd instinct and tosses away your individuality.

Just because the majority are prepared to do something it doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. But the herd instinct is so strong that it can feel right.

To be truly your own person you need to assess something on its merits, not on other peoples' opinions.

Sure it's great to take account of other people's experiences - if you never did this you'd be pig headed; but automatically assuming the group (or should I say 'herd') is right is dangerous.

Why peer pressure stops you seeing straight

Research shows that ⁽¹⁾ if enough people say that a square is a circle then those not knowingly in on the experiment will tend to disbelieve the evidence of their own eyes and agree that the square really is a circle. Isn't that frightening?

We are social creatures and work as groups. In early evolution we had to clump together as individually we were weaker than the other predators.

This is all well and good but if we always look to others to lead then we may not be choosy enough about who leads us.

The world needs free thinkers

Now, more than ever, we need people who can think for themselves and resist peer pressure when necessary.

The majority is powerful but also remember that group consensus at one time would have had us believe that the world was flat, space travel was impossible and the moon was made of cheese.

What other commonly held ideas will one day seem as crazy to our descendents?

Being able to deal with peer pressure when you need to will increase your confidence and make you feel more of a rounded and whole person. It may even save your life.

Download Resist Peer Pressure now and live up to your own standards. You can listen on your computer or device or via our free app which you can access when you have completed your purchase.

¹ Just Going Along: Nonconscious Priming and Conformity to Social Pressure