Blog Post 4: Peer Pressure and Decision Making

Decision-making is cognitive process resulting in the selection of a belief or a course of action among several alternative possibilities, choices or options. It is choosing and identifying options based on differeent values, race and belief of a person. It is said to be one of the most important factor in every person's life. Most people believe that decision making is one major skill we should learn, especially the teen nowadays. With the so called peer pressure, it is very hard for the teens to decide on their own.

I saw some articles that can fully explain what is decision making and how can peer pressure affects the decision making skills of the teenagers nowadays. First article I've read was written by an IMD Professor, Phil Rosenzweig last November 2013, entitled "Categories of decision making". In his article, he explained that making decisions are inevitable in every person's life. We are living in a world full of decisions on a daily basis. He said that in making our decisions, we should have sets of options and should set benchmarks or parameters. Of course, all of our decisions depend on the situation. He said that if we want to improve something, then we should know what are the things we should do in order for us to influence the outcomes of our decisions. He also said that sometimes, we tend to be contented in what we have so we do not take time and put n effort to enhance our skills. He said that in every decision making, we should make the choice will give us the best.

Phil Rosenzweig said, “Decisions vary along two dimensions: control and performance. Control considers how much we can influence the terms of the decision and the outcome. And performance addresses the way we measure success.”

I agree with Phil, his article perfectly fits those teens who are undergoing or experiencing per pressure. Our decisions definitely brought us to where we today and will bring us to where we want to be in the future. So if we decided to be stagnant, then we will be stuck on where we are, but if we decided and choose to be successful, then we will become successful. It’s just a matter of choice. If you won’t do anything, you wouldn't reach anything.

And the second article I've read was about how can peer pressure influence our decision making skills. It was written by Amanda Romero entitled "Effects of Peer Pressure on Decision Making". Amanda said that our peer-to-peer interaction affects us every day. From the decisions we make, to the clothes we wear and the choices we take. She also said that peer pressure today is rising and cannot be escaped.

Amanda Romero once said, “Our teenagers are the most influenced by peer pressure. Peers influence people because they want to fit in, be like peers they admire, do what others are doing, It’s only natural for people to identify with and compare themselves to their peers as they consider how they wish to be, or what they want to achieve.”

It is true that we cannot run away from peer pressure, it is inevitable especially for the teenagers. For me, peer pressure has a huge impact in our decision making skills. Teens are very impulsive and careless when it comes to making their own decisions, they do not think twice before they do something, they do not think or plan ahead, all they want is to be accepted by their peers and to feel that there are people who like them.