Peer Pressure is the direct influence on people by peers, or the effect on an individual who gets encouraged to follow their peers by changing their attitudes, values or behaviors to conform to those of the influencing group or individual.
Social groups affected include both membership groups, in which individuals are “formality” members such as political parties and trade unions), and cliques, in which membership is not clearly defined.
Peer pressure can affect individuals of all ethnicity, genders and ages, however. Peer pressure has moved from strictly face to face interaction to digital interaction as well as Social media offers opportunities for adolescents and adults alike to instill or experience pressure everyday.
There has been considerable study regarding peer pressure’s effects on children and adolescents, and in popular discourse the term is mostly used in the contexts of those age groups. However, a person does not need to be a member or be seeking membership of a group to be affected by peer pressure.
Peer Pressure & Peer Influence 