IELTS Essay Topic: Young people are often influenced in their behaviours by others in the same age group. Some argue that peer pressure is important, while others feel it has distinct disadvantages.

Q-Young people are often influenced in their behaviours by others in the same age group. Some argue that peer pressure is important, while others feel it has distinct disadvantages.Do the disadvantages of peer pressure outweigh the advantages?

Ans. Peer pressure is the influence exerted by a peer group that encourages people to change their attitudes, values, or behaviours to fit into group norms. It plays a significant part in adolescent life. I agree that peers can help make a particular place comfortable for an individual but majorly they play an active role in helping an individual indulge in risky behaviours. So, In my opinion, the disadvantages of peer pressure outweigh the advantages.

Peer pressure plays a crucial role in shaping adolescent behaviour and attitudes. It helps people in promoting unity and harmony in the society. For instance, a teenager might be motivated to excel academically or engage in community service due to the influence of their high-achieving peers. It tends to encourage people to conform to societal norms and values. Moreover, it can help young people in preparing for the realities of adulthood. This is because It exposes them to different viewpoints and assists them in learning how to navigate social dynamics, which in turn enhances their social skills and emotional intelligence. 

However, there can be several ill effects of being influenced by one’s peers. Firstly, it may encourage youth to engage in dangerous activities such as smoking, drinking, or drug usage to make them fit into their groups. Excess peer pressure is the major cause of stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem in the younger generation as it builds this feeling that they are not able to match the expectations of their peers. In extreme cases, it can even lead to depression and other mental health issues. This can also stifle individuality and creativity, preventing young people from discovering their true selves and potential. 

In addition to this, there can be a loss of personal identity as young people may feel compelled to adopt the attitudes, behaviours, and tastes of their peers, even if they conflict with their values and beliefs. It also leads to academic pressure as students may feel forced to achieve the same grades as their peers, leading to unhealthy competition and burnout. This can result in a lack of motivation and interest in learning, which can have long-term effects on their academic and career prospects.

In conclusion, peer pressure does have an indispensable role in the societal development of young individuals. However, it also provides people with a sense of comfort and security in their formative years. However, its disadvantages such as promoting risky behaviours, causing mental health issues, stifling individuality, and leading to academic pressure are more significant. Therefore, parents, educators, and society as a whole must provide guidance and support to young people to help them navigate the complexities of peer pressure.

Analysis

Paraphrased Statement: Peer Pressure is the influence exerted by a peer group that encourages people to change their attitudes, values, or behaviours to fit into group norms. It plays a significant part in adolescent life. 

Thesis Statement:   I agree that peers can help make a particular place comfortable for an individual but majorly they play an active role in helping an individual indulge in risky behaviours. So, In my opinion, the disadvantages of peer pressure outweigh the advantages.

Body Paragraph 1-Topic Sentences: Peer pressure plays a crucial role in shaping adolescent behavior and attitudes. It helps people in promoting unity and harmony in the society. For instance, a teenager might be motivated to excel academically or engage in community service due to the influence of their high-achieving peers.

Body Paragraph 1- Supporting Reasons and Explanations:  It tends to encourage people to conform to societal norms and values. Moreover, it can help young people in preparing for the realities of adulthood. This is because it exposes them to different viewpoints and assists them in learning how to navigate social dynamics, which in turn enhances their social skills and emotional intelligence. 

Body Paragraph 2- Topic sentences: However, there can be several ill effects of being influenced by one’s peers. Firstly, it may encourage youth to engage in dangerous activities such as smoking, drinking, or drug usage to make them fit into their groups. 

Body Paragraph 2- Supporting Reasons and Explanations: Excess peer pressure is the major cause of stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem in the younger generation as it builds this feeling that they are not able to match the expectations of their peers. In extreme cases, it can even lead to depression and other mental health issues.  This can also stifle individuality and creativity, preventing young people from discovering their true selves and potential. 

Body Paragraph 3- Topic sentences: In addition to this, there can be a loss of personal identity as young people may feel compelled to adopt the attitudes, behaviours, and tastes of their peers, even if they conflict with their values and beliefs. 

Body Paragraph 3- Supporting Reasons and Explanations:  It also leads to academic pressure as students may feel forced to achieve the same grades as their peers, leading to unhealthy competition and burnout. This can result in a lack of motivation and interest in learning, which can have long-term effects on their academic and career prospects.

Conclusion: In conclusion, peer pressure does have an indispensable role in the societal development of young individuals. However, it also provides people with a sense of comfort and security in their formative years. However, its disadvantages such as promoting risky behaviours, causing mental health issues, stifling individuality, and leading to academic pressure are more significant. Therefore, parents, educators, and society as a whole must provide guidance and support to young people to help them navigate the complexities of peer pressure.

Vocabulary in Use

Peer Pressure is the influence exerted by a peer group that encourages people to change their attitudes, values, or behaviours to fit into group norms. It plays a significant part in adolescent life. I agree that peers can help make a particular place comfortable for an individual but majorly they play an active role in helping an individual indulge in risky behaviours. So, In my opinion, the disadvantages of peer pressure outweigh the advantages.

Peer pressure plays a crucial role in shaping adolescent behaviour and attitudes. It helps people in promoting unity and harmony in the society. For instance, a teenager might be motivated to excel academically or engage in community service due to the influence of their high-achieving peers. It tends to encourage people to conform to societal norms and values. Moreover, it can help young people in preparing for the realities of adulthood. This is because It exposes them to different viewpoints and assists them in learning how to navigate social dynamics, which in turn enhances their social skills and emotional intelligence. 

However, there can be several ill effects of being influenced by one’s peers. Firstly, it may encourage youth to engage in dangerous activities such as smoking, drinking, or drug usage to make them fit into their groups. Excess peer pressure is the major cause of stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem in the younger generation as it builds this feeling that they are not able to match the expectations of their peers. In extreme cases, it can even lead to depression and other mental health issues. This can also stifle individuality and creativity, preventing young people from discovering their true selves and potential. 

In addition to this, there can be a loss of personal identity  as young people may feel compelled to adopt the attitudes, behaviors, and tastes of their peers, even if they conflict with their values and beliefs. It also leads to academic pressure as students may feel forced to achieve the same grades as their peers, leading to unhealthy competition and burnout. This can result in a lack of motivation and interest in learning, which can have long-term effects on their academic and career prospects.

In conclusion, peer pressure does have an indispensable role in the societal development of young individuals. However, it also provides people with a sense of comfort and security in their formative years. However, its disadvantages such as promoting risky behaviours, causing mental health issues, stifling individuality, and leading to academic pressure are more significant. Therefore, parents, educators, and society as a whole must provide guidance and support to young people to help them navigate the complexities of peer pressure.

Linkers and Connectors Used

Below are the linkers and connectors used in the essay:

1. Peer Pressure is
2. It plays a significant part
3. I agree
4. But:
5. So
6. Peer pressure plays a crucial role
7. For instance
8. It tends to
9. Excess peer pressure is
10. In extreme cases
11. Peer pressure can also
12. In addition to this
13. It also leads to
14. This can result in
15. In conclusion
16. Therefore

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