What is peer pressure?

Answer 1

Peer pressure is being urged to do what your friends (peers) are doing, even if you don't really want to do it, in order to "fit in" with the group. For example, if you see your friends skipping school or smoking illegal drugs, you might go and do it -- not because you actually want to, but only to be able to hang with your friends.

If all of your friends are smoking but you are the only one who's not they might be saying "try it its good" and they keep putting pressure on you more and more until you try it.

It's a group thing, doing the same activities can bring the group closer together and bring a sense of belonging. It can be good when you're doing good stuff, but bad when the group gathers around bad stuff : shoplifting, smoking, skipping school, bullying others.

There is also such a thing as "good" peer pressure. For example, if you need to finish an essay but your friends are telling you to go outside and play. You have to choose what's right to do, because the other students will all do their essays. No one is making you go outside and play, and you still want to, but you can stop yourself and finish your essay instead.

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Peer pressure means conforming to what your peers have made the "expected" behavior.