Behavioural Changes of Students By Peer Pressure in the Higher
Educational Institution in context to Popularity in North East, India
Ekta Chakravarty
Gauhati Commerce College, Gauhati University,
E-mail : [email protected]
adulthood (19-23)1. These changes are bounded by
learning, perception, motivation, appealing values,
culture, lifestyle and most importantly „peer pressure‟.
Abstract - Human behaviour, the potential and expressed
capacity for physical, mental, and social activity during the
phases of human life. Change in human behaviour is the
only static trait characterised by physical, mental and
physiological features. It occurs in different phases of life
from play age to old age. The outcome of these changes is
due to education, advising, commanding, and appealing to
values and peer pressure. Out of all the possible mentioned
factors peer pressure is one of the most important,
especially in regard to students in higher education. Peer
pressure means pressure from one's peers to behave in a
manner similar or acceptable to them. Peer group
encourages positive as well as negative vibes. This study is
an attempt to understand the impacts of peer pressure that
lead to behavioural changes in the students of Higher
Educational Institutions, in an effort to face the lure of
popularity. It is based on data collected through
questionnaires, telephonic interview and observation
method conducted across different colleges of
Dharmanagar, Routa, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Shillong,
Agartala, Kolkata, Siliguri and Guwahati city. The study
further attempts to put forward suggestions towards
managing peer pressure and the role of teachers and
parents in this regard.
Peer pressure is the outcome of the impact often
exerted imperceptibly on our choices regarding food,
clothing, attitude, values and behaviour by our peers2.
The level of peer influence generally increases as
children grow, and resistance to peer influence often
declines as children gain independence from the family
or caregivers, and before they fully form an adult
identity. However peer pressure exists for all ages.
Peer groups have so much influence, especially
with adolescents, because, no matter how inappropriate
it seems to adults, belonging to a group really does give
something significant to the young person2. Peer groups
provide a place where children feel accepted where they
can feel good about themselves, and where their selfesteem is enhanced3. According to some psychologists
life becomes simpler if expectations can be well lived
upto1. Young people tend to gravitate toward other
young people with the same problems and in the same
situations as themselves and where they feel they will be
understood and accepted. There is a very, very strong
need to satisfy that thirst for unity and for acceptance.
The feeling of belonging is a very powerful force that
can outweigh ties to church, school, family, or
community.
Keywords: Peer pressure, behaviour, student, popularity and
appearance.
I.
INTRODUCTION
Human behaviour is the cause of perceptive change
and is highly unpredictable. Behavioural change is
complex and dynamic and an effort to know why people
behave the way they do have led to the growing
significance of understanding human behaviour. In other
words knowledge about why people behave has caught
an eye to extract maximum result to know about the
tendencies and reason or the root cause of their
behaviour. The changes are seen all throughout a
person‟s life starting from play age to old age but it
turns more prominent when they reach age of early
In addition to the feeling of belonging and not being
alone or socially isolated, some characteristics that peer
groups offer which make them attractive and that which
families may lack are a strong belief structure and a
clear system of rules2.
This study is an attempt to understand the impact of
peer pressure that leads to behavioural changes in the
students of Higher Educational Institutions, in an effort
to face the lure of popularity.
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International Journal of Research and Development - A Management Review (IJRDMR)
II. OBJECTIVES
2.
Is there any way of handling peer pressure?
The objectives of the study are:
III. FINDINGS
1. To study the factors regarded by students as the
In view of the first objective for this study, the
attributes, possession of which according to the student
would make them popular amongst the peer includes;
parameters of popularity amongst peer.
2. To study the means of adoption to popularity and
the consequences in one‟s behaviour.
1.
Academic performance in terms of educational
result is being regarded by 80% of the respondents
as criteria for achieving popularity.
2.
80% considered owning or possessing expensive
accessories like watches, gadgets, bags, etc or even
a car or a bike would make them popular.
3.
70% considered that more costly and high brand
consciousness in terms of apparels makes one more
popular and he tends to be an idol for others.
4.
65% of the respondents considered that smoking
makes them feel like man of the age and grow
popular.
5.
55% considered drinking for fun and to do away
with their fears and failures is something that would
make them popular amongst their friends
6.
Physical appearance especially in regard to having a
perfect figure like the celebrities is considered by
50% of the respondents as the root to popularity.
7.
50% considered that having physical relationship is
the key to popularity amongst peer due to teens'
belief that it allows easy and quick acceptance in
groups.
8.
General awareness is another criteria which is been
agreed upon by 45% of the respondents that could
make one popular.
9.
30% considered taking drugs like marijuana or
inhaling of adhesives or naphthalene balls would
make them popular amongst their friends circle.
3. To study the ways helpful in coping with peer
pressure.
III. METHODOLOGY
The methodology adopted for this study comprises
the use of both primary and secondary data. Primary
data has been collected through telephonic
communication with 20 student, 15 parent and 10
teachers, observation and questionnaire distributed to a
sample of 140 students and 36 teachers of 5 higher
educational institutes and 79 parent of Dharmanagar,
Routa, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Shillong, Agartala, Kolkata,
Siliguri and Guwahati city. Teachers and parents
Journals, magazines and the internet provided with the
secondary data. The self administered questionnaire
named “Peer and Behaviour” was distributed to the
students. Permission was obtained from the respected
Higher Educational Institutions of Dharmanagar, Routa,
Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Shillong, Agartala, Kolkata, Siliguri
Guwahati city to distribute and administer a total of
three hundred questionnaires to student at the selected
colleges in Dharmanagar college, Routa college,
Dibrugarh university, J.B. law college Jorhat, Anthony,
Edmund, St. Mary‟s and Shillong commerce college,
Women‟s college and MBB college Agartala, Scottish
church college Kolkata, Siliguri college, Balaji, Borjhar,
Chandmari, RBI- Guwahati, Panbazar, Zoo Road and
Bara Service area that participated in the research study.
The researcher personally delivered the questionnaires
to the respondents, at which instance an agreed upon
collection date was determined; in most cases it was a
week after the distribution of the questionnaire. A cover
letter explaining the purpose of the research and
assuring respondents of the anonymity and
confidentiality of the research accompanied each
questionnaire. The use of simple statistical technique is
used for representing data. Chart tile like bar diagrams
and pie diagrams have shown the comparison and
relative percentage output for each analysis.
percentage (100)
100
50
percentage…
0
IV. RESEARCH QUERY
The research queries which needed to be answered
for the study undertaken are:
1.
Do being popular affects one‟s behaviour?
FIG: Population Parameter
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International Journal of Research and Development - A Management Review (IJRDMR)
In order to gain popularity, the respondents revealed
that they could resort to several means or ways which
included part time jobs to earn money for spending on
apparels and accessories, smoking and drinking, taking
to drugs, being a pet to the rich, faking on relationships
and also resorting to isolation so as to study and be a
topper of the institution. Some of them even revealed
that in order to make up for the failure of gaining
popularity in real life; they take to socialising across
social networking sites with fake accounts and false and
misleading information. The study further revealed that
there had been instances when some respondents were
victimised by peer pressure with the consequences of
loosing old friends, becoming a victim of youth offences
or indulging in socially unacceptable practices, getting
addicted to smoking, drinking, doping and even sex.
However 30% opined that they would be judgemental
about the activities which peers would pressurise.
Following to cheating backstabbing was regarded as
second most opted means to attain popularity. Telling lie
and being fake to the peer group is regarded by 12% and
8% of the total respondent as a means to gain popularity.
As per the second objective the consequences of being
popular in the behaviour are:
1. Positive effecta.
Concentration is been regarded by 42% of the total
respondents.
b.
Patient is been regarded by 17% of the total
respondents.
c.
Reserved thought is been regarded by 12% of the
total respondents.
d.
In view to second objectives the means adopted to gain
popularity are:
Modest is been regarded by 10% of the total
respondents.
e.
Thoughtful is been regarded by 8% of the total
respondents.
1. 60% of the total respondents agreed to cheat on
anybody to avail popularity.
f.
Dignified is been regarded by 6% of the total
respondents.
2. 20% of the total respondents have chosen
backstabbing their friends as a mean adopted to
gain popularity.
g.
Soft spoken is been regarded by 5% of the total
respondents.
3. 12% of the total respondents have agreed to lie for
gaining popularity.
2. Negative effect-
4. 8% of the total respondents chosen to be fake for
being popular.
percentage
12%
20%
8%
cheat
60%
backstabb
lie
a.
Frigid is been regarded by 37% of the total
respondents.
b.
Frustrated is been regarded by 21% of the total
respondents.
c.
Jealous is been regarded by 14% of the total
respondents.
d.
Arrogant is been regarded by 10% of the total
respondents.
e.
De motivated is been regarded by 7% of the total
respondents.
f.
Depression is been regarded by 6% of the total
respondents.
g.
Anxiety is been regarded by 5% of the total
respondents.
fake
Fig. 2 : Means Of Popularity
Gaining popularity by the means of cheating
anyone who comes in the way as hindrance to popularity
is been chosen by a majority of the total respondents.
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International Journal of Research and Development - A Management Review (IJRDMR)
positive
patient
modest
dignified
negative
frustrated
life of the individuals. An analysis of the major findings
reveals that there are several factors that are considered
by the students as the yardstick of popularity. Of these
the most important one is the issue of excellence in
academic performance. A student with brilliant result
automatically gains popularity amongst the peers.
Another equally important criterion is possession of
riches and apparel. Three other criteria regarded as
parameters of popularity is smoking, drinking and
physical appearance.
Concentration.
reserved thought
thoughtful
soft spoken
Frigid
jealous
42
37
21
17
12 10
0
The findings further reveals that students could go
to any extent when it comes to achieving popularity. As
long as they engage themselves in socially favourable
pursuits, such efforts to gain popularity do not harm
anybody. Rather they help the growth of the individuals.
Such cases could be like studying harder to score better
and learning new skills and developing one‟s
personality. However a very important aspect worth
mentioning here is in regard to the feelings of the
concerned individuals experiencing peer pressure. Many
talked about experiencing severe depression to extent of
feeling suicidal. Other predominant emotions included
jealousy, anxiety, revenge, low self esteem and fears of
rejection. Also important is the change in behaviour of
some individuals, especially girls who start practicing
self induced vomiting known as anorexia nervosa, just
for the sake of maintaining their body weight and size 4,
5
.
14
8 6
5
10
7 6 5
0
behavioural effects
Fig: Behavioural Effect
The most seen effect on behaviour which concludes
a positive effect on a student by the relevance of peer
prevalence in achieving popularity is increase in
concentration in class as well as ones personal life.
Followed by this patience in decision making, reserved
thought, modest to situation and being thoughtful about
other surrounded crowd is been observed. Dignity in
personality and soft spoken is another trait which built
in by positive peer pressure.
Cheating and backstabbing have become very much
common means adopted to get thee popularity
parameter. In order to reside among the peer circle
cheating and backstabbing plays a very important role to
avail popularity. Telling lie and flaunting away
possession being fake shadows ones individuality and
finally lands up to a messed behaviour where one reacts
very frustrated and rigid to all circumstances and
situations. It does not bring or shapes positive etiquette
in behaviour rather becomes more complicated to
understandable by others.
The negative aspects in behaviour are frigidly,
frustration and jealousy is most common traits in one
when affected by peer prevalence. Arrogance to
suggestion and advices, de-motivation in work,
depression and anxiety also comes into cast when
affected by peer pressure.
Another important finding is that 70% of the
respondents agreed to the fact that teachers and parents
could play a major role in coping with peer pressure as
well as helping the victims. The suitable ways as
suggested by the respondents included adequate
counselling in the colleges and developing better
relationships with the teachers. Some also opined that
family environment and healthy relations at home help
to make an individual strong enough to face peer
pressure.
Awareness take hold with an aspiration lifestyle
making the students‟ well- mannered, polite, gentle,
social, patient and disciplined and the underground
student movement that bloomed and overthrew the
positive change in behaviour even lead to adopt a certain
kind of lifestyle like rudeness, frustrated, anxiety,
fidgety and indifferent. Peer pressure can lead to loss of
individuality.6
A study of the comments and suggestions of the
respondents proves that there is a tremendous scope for
the teachers and parents to work towards preventing
negative consequences of peer pressure as well as
helping the victims overcome their unpleasant
experiences.
VI. ANALYSIS
Since it is the age for the survival of the fittest and
gaining popularity has become the talk of the town,
individuals tend to be highly influenced by the lure of
popularity and this is when peer pressure creeps in the
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International Journal of Research and Development - A Management Review (IJRDMR)
VII. SUGGESTIONS
pulled aside. As the normal phenomenon of human
beings, every person tends to be inquisitive about the
events which are asked to avoid. And gaining attention
on those avoided and ignorant aspect makes one have
the chunk to popularity .This mindset must be changed
by the proper and adequate guidance of parents and
teachers. Focus must be put on betterment and not
excellence. Only then the students hunger for betterment
will be ripe for excellence without hindrances of peer
pressure.
Peer pressure and its consequences could be either
positive or negative. A proper understanding of such
consequences along with the causes could help to
optimise the benefits and minimise its ill effects. For
today's teenagers, drinking are the easiest ways to
declare their independence, rebel against established
norms and act uncontrollable with a view to become
popular3. Hence it is very crucial that efforts be made to
help these individuals experience freedom but on a right
note and manner with proper guide and support. Some
of the suggestions that can be put forward in regard to
handling peer pressure can be stated as below;
1.
Building healthy family relation
environment at home with parents.
2.
Organising frequent counselling sessions in the
educational institutions with the participation
of both the teachers and students.
3.
Reducing the tendency of comparing an
individual with another by the parents, teachers
and the individual himself.
4.
Engaging the individual in extracurricular
activities, physical exercise and sports to keep
the individual occupied with constructive
thinking.
5.
Preparing a mental script to deal with
uncomfortable situations and play that script
out in head over and over again.
Popularity is the key to the fame pedestal. It is
inevitable and will exist as well as grow more every day.
This has become the light in the arena of peer pressure
and individuals are getting easily victimised by it.
Reasons or means to taste the chunk of popularity have
led to behavioural change in the individuals. As saying
goes that a healthy mind prospers and grows it is well
suited in context to the lure of popularity amongst peer
pressure. Parents and teachers effort in the line of
helping duck peer pressure could go a long way in
building better citizens of tomorrow.
and
IX. REFERENCE
Peer-driven motivation can affect behaviour
providing more support that shows changes to overall
college culture can have a greater impact on student
achievement than isolated programs. From the
beginning of our lives, the first social influences that we
encounter belong to the family unit. It is our families
that shape our behaviours and actions from the start.
Values, attitudes and morals are all functions of the
family social structure and may greatly impact what we
do and how we do it.6, 7
There is never anybody telling one to do anything:
one is in charge of oneself. One should perform action
as he feels correct and not because someone has pushed
into it. And also the more one see oneself in a leadership
role the more comfortable one will feel asserting one‟s
own opinions and feelings. Finally one must be
comfortable with any choice they make such as peer,
action and reaction8.
VIII. CONCLUSION
Students grow by the way they are nurtured, and the
factors which hamper this nurturing must be stepped and
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Dr. Khanka, S.S, edition fourth, Organisational
Behaviour, S. Chand & Company ltd, Ram
Nagar, New Delhi-110055, July 11, 2003.
[2]
Jagran Josh current affairs pdf May 2012, viewed
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during High School”, Ezine Articles, ads by
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[5]
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Behavior” eHow Contributor
[7]
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About.com, Beating peer pressure,
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ISSN (Print): 2319–5479, Volume-2, Issue – 2, 2013
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International Journal of Research and Development - A Management Review (IJRDMR)
[10]
www.challenge.nm.org/archive/0203/finalreports/063/
[11]
http://www.ehow.com/info_8510709_socialinfluences-human-behavior.html#ixzz22xtCAF14
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APPENDICES
Questions
(to students)
1. Are you a victim of
peer pressure?
2. Rating
of
parameters
of
popularity by self
implication.
3.
4.
5.
Rate of means to
achieve popularity.
In
case
the
popularity achieved
is not favoured by
family will you still
stick to achieve it?
Who can help you
most in coping up
peer pressure?
Questions
(to parents and teachers)
1. What
positive
behavioural
changes do students
cast when affected
by peer pressure?
2. What
negative
behavioural
changes do students
cast when affected
by peer pressure?
Review
Frigid,
frustrated,
jealous,
arrogant,
demotivated, depression
and anxiety.
Concentration, patient,
reserved
thought,
modest,
thoughtful,
dignified
and
soft
spoken.

Review
98% yes
Academic performance,
expensive possession,
brand
consciousness,
smoking,
drinking,
physical
appearance,
physical
relationship,
general awareness and
doping.
Cheating, backstab, lie
and flakiness‟.
78% yes.
56% parents and 44%
teachers
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