Every single person has experienced peer pressure in their lives. Every single person has experienced peer pressure in their lives. Social life implies regular communication with various people that may impose their views on somebody. Such a contradiction between one’s own beliefs and the community’s values may affect a person rather harshly. The desire to conform does not make it easier for the person to blend in if the societal values do not resonate with their own. The individual beliefs often go in contrast with the societal standards which can cause the rejection or contempt by the community. The peer pressure of various characteristics due to the community’s contradicting desire can lead to moral decay or psychological illness in a person.
People of all ages are subjected to peer pressure; it happens not only in childhood but also in adulthood. Children are the most susceptible to it because of the forming identity and relationships. The main character in Salvation by Hughes was only twelve when he faced peer pressure to convert and join Jesus in a church. He could not handle the pressure and cried at night because of his disturbed morality as he “could not bear to tell her that he had lied” and did not see Jesus (2). The outcome of this decision was his hopelessness and belief that “there was a Jesus anymore” caused by the church congregation’s provocation (Hughes 2). Adults appear to be less influenced by their peers due to formed personality and consciousness, but the character of Orwell’s novel still silently suffered after killing the elephant. He experienced a complex societal dilemma when the boy realized his role in imperial society and the natives’ expectations towards a white person.
It may as well be spoken or unspoken, direct or indirect. The boy was affected by both types, but his peer’s spoken commentary on the bench influenced him the most. The boy’s perception was significantly affected because of the one-to-one environment, where the recipient is the most perspective. The praying group around him also gradually increased the tension and pressure. The dilemma the man faced inside his head, on the contrary, was unspoken. He did not specifically get the order to kill, nor the crowd told him, but he felt the pressure. The man realized that the action he took would significantly alter the societal opinion of him as he felt the unspoken crowd’s desire. Either way, peer pressure puts a person in a position of deciding on the spot. Indirect peer pressure is more subtle, like killing an elephant when the character saw the excited faces in the crowd as he was aiming the gun and felt a strong influence towards obeying their will.
Peer pressure does not necessarily have to negative; it can also promote positive action. The man experienced negative peer pressure, having to kill an elephant. The boy, on the other hand, was forced to engage in a somewhat positive activity. However, he did not seem to enjoy joining the prayers and his salvation at all. It turned out to be a painful experience causing a complete loss of faith. It appears that no matter what sort of activity a person is prompt into doing, it may still largely contradict a person’s values and beliefs. Such an action can cause pain and even lead to trauma. The man who was forced to kill an elephant felt a strong contradiction between his own desire and the crowd’s desire, which confused him. He disregarded his own belief that “it would be murder to shoot him” (Orwell 3) and suffered by watching an elephant die. He did not cry and looked rather indifferent than the boy, but he also suffered as he betrayed his principles and morality.
Peer pressure is inevitable as we live in society where every community and group of people have their own beliefs. It helps to maintain societal order but is often dismissive of individual struggles. Imposing these beliefs may often be rather aggressive and cause a person to suffer. Unfortunately, there is no power over society’s values as it is the majority. However, we have the power of what to do about these standards. The choice and responsibility of a decision we make under pressure still depends on us.
Works Cited
Hughes, Langston. “Salvation.” The Big Sea: An Autobiography. 2nd ed., Hill and Wang, 1993, pp. 18-21.
Orwell, George. Shooting an Elephant. Penguin Books, 2009.