Sunday, October 28, 2012

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION (FINAL DRAFT)


The Good and Bad Effect of Peer Pressure on Teenagers







A Research Paper Presented to 
Sir Dustin Celestino 
Asia Pacific College 
Magallanes, Makati City 










In Partial Fulfilment 
of the Requirements for the Course 
RESWRIT – Research Writing 










Janette J. Manese

October 2012



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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION



A. Background of the Study

            Peer pressure is commonly applied to younger people, especially those teenagers. Responding to peer pressure is part of human nature that some teenagers are more likely to give in, and others are better able to resist and stand their ground. Peer pressure is one thing that all teens have in common. Some can't escape it because it is almost everywhere. Peer pressure is defined as the way that people of the same social group can influence on another individual to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted.

            Teens are very quick and accurate in making judgments and decisions on their own and in situations where they have time to think. However, when they have to make decisions in the heat of the moment or in social situations, their decisions are often influenced by external factors like peers. In a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), teen volunteers played a video driving game, either alone or with friends watching. What the researchers discovered was that the number of risks teens took in the driving game more than doubled when their friends were watching as compared to when the teens played the game alone. This outcome indicates that teens may find it more difficult to control impulsive or risky behaviors when their friends are around, or in situations that are emotionally charged. (http://www.scholastic.com/nida/nida/HeadsUp-Student-Yr6.pdf)

            It can also have a positive effect. F
riends often encourage each other,  encourage others to do worst and they can also encourage to do good. A teen might join a volunteer project because all of his or her friends are doing it, or get good grades because the social group he or she belongs to thinks getting good grades is important. A positive peer group can help boost her self-esteem. It might prevent her from engaging in harmful or risky behaviors.


In this way, peer influence can lead teens to engage in new activities that can help build strong pathways in the brain. As described in the article, “Teens and Decision Making: What Brain Science Reveals”, neural connections that are weak or seldom used are removed during adolescence through a process called synaptic pruning, allowing the brain to redirect precious resources toward more active connections. This means that teens have the potential, through their choices and the behaviors they engage in, to shape their own brain development. Therefore, skill-building activities such as those physical, learning, and creative endeavors that teens are often encouraged to try through positive peer influence not only provide stimulating challenges, but can simultaneously build strong pathways in the brain. (http://www.scholastic.com/nida/nida/HeadsUp-Student-Yr6.pdf)
        
            While we are constantly influenced by those around us because most young people spend large amounts of time  with them. But still it is up to us to decide to act or not to act . So when it comes to decision making, the choice is up to you. For instances an individual tempted to take drugs, teens who have been armed with information of what drug use can do to their body, mind and spirit through a good Drug Awareness Program, are less likely to give in to the pressure than those who have not been educated on the harms it can cause.

           Looking at the modern society, most of the teenagers are not aware with the pressure they can experience together with their peers; most especially when they already feel that they are belong in the group. Teenagers need to be conscious with the consequences of choosing people to be with. Teenagers need to be guided and have the knowledge to critically deal with the matter of peer pressure.

Instead of watching teenagers suffer from peer pressure, this paper may help us to have considerations and idea on guiding them with the right path. This paper focuses on the effects brought by peer pressure on teenagers in building their personality.

B. Statement of the Problem

This study aims to answer this question:
    1. What are the effects brought by peer pressure on teenagers in building their personality?

C. Significance of the Study

Teenagers. This research paper would be able to help teenagers to carefully choose people to be with. They can be able to be guided in choosing their group to be fit in. They need to critically think where they should go and what way they wanted to be. This research paper aims to help most especially teenagers because they are the one who are being affected with this issue.

Parents. Parents can have the idea of the issue that their child was going through. They can be able to have the idea of the proper way of guiding their child so that teenagers would be able to take chances of doing right things together with their peers.

Future Researchers. This study can be a source of information for the future researchers especially this study is widely discuss yet, society is not really aware and conscious about this issue. Researchers can be a way to let people know the importance of having knowledge about peer pressure.

D. Scope and Delimitation

            This study focuses on the factors to be considered by the teenagers in dealing with peer pressure. This study will discuss also the pressure involves in peers. Peer pressures have been considered as one of the most major problem of the society today.

This study will no longer discuss other matters of peer pressure and also the cases and sensitive issues involving peer pressure. This is also to give emphasis to the pressure that the teenagers will encounter during their maturity and possible experiences.

E. Materials and Methods

            This paper uses a descriptive method because the researcher aims to describe and discuss further the factors to be considered by the teenagers in dealing with peer pressure by gathering information about the topic, analyzing past studies conducted related to the topic, reading articles and then make appropriate conclusion about it.

F. Definition of Terms

Peers.  One belonging to the same social group especially based on age, grade, or status.
Pressure.  It is the burden of physical or mental distress. It is the feeling that you are being pushed toward making a certain choice either good or bad.
Peer Pressure. The way that people of the same social group can influence on another individual to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted.

16 comments:

  1. Can you post the body of the topic??? Its very intersting

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  2. Can u please share with me scales related to peer pressure because i am interested to do a research on peer pressure and anti social behavior but i dont have scales...can u please share if u have

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  3. Can u please share with me scales related to peer pressure because i am interested to do a research on peer pressure and anti social behavior but i dont have scales...can u please share if u have

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  4. hi can you please share the statement of the problem? please pretty please -_-

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  5. hi can you please share the statement of the problem? please pretty please -_-

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  6. Can you plss share the references of peer pressure

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  7. so intersting so amazing...💕💕😘

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  8. Hi, I'm a psychology student and our group is currently working on a research study related to your topic. I wonder if you can share us your survey questions as reference. Thank you.

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  9. May i know where is the main findings of this research.

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  10. Kindly pls give me a problem statement of how teenagers fall into the peer pressure

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  11. I hope you notice my comment this is an important couz I'm doing a concept paper now so pls help this I am very first time to wrote this

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  12. Thank you for this!! i've learn a lot hehe

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