peer pressure

When it pulls and moves, it is very strong and difficult to swim against. So, it's best to know where the tide is going and how strong it is before going swimming. Likewise, it's good if you can know a group of people before you begin to befriend them, that way you decrease the chances of getting into trouble.

"Many people think that peer pressure is like a river, and you are on a raft," he said. "They think that if the flow is going the wrong way, you can simply jump off the raft and onto the banks of the river."

"Peer pressure is like the air pressure in tires. Positive peer pressure pumps you up, supports you, helps you meet your goals, etc. Negative peer pressure takes
the air out of you, keeps you from going anywhere, causes accidents, jeopardizes your future, etc. Peer pressure can be a positive or a negative force in our lives-but it is our choice of peers that ultimately controls the kind of peer pres-
sure we are subjected to."