Chapter 1 A Close-Up View of You 23
career or marriage partner. Peers also infl uence
many of your immediate actions since you often
face the same decisions that affect them.
As teens spend time with their friends, they
learn to develop close relationships (Figure 1.16).
Close friends feel accepted for who they are.
They are able to share and communicate deep
inner feelings without fear of being embarrassed
or laughed at. When young adults have trouble
developing such relationships, they feel alone and
isolated. Close peer relationships are important
because they help prepare the young adult for
marriage.
Sometimes peers may make choices that a teen
feels is not right for him or her. When this happens,
that teen needs to make a personal choice rather than
following the group. Negative choices regarding
sex, alcohol, drugs, and tobacco can affect a young
person for the rest of his or her life. Skills for
handling peer pressure are important for teens to
develop so they can confi dently make decisions
that support their own goals.
The Infl uence of Peers
Peers are the people who are your age. The
infl uence of your peers is greatest during the
teen years, and your experiences with them will
infl uence the way you see yourself. From interacting
with your peers, you make judgments about how
you look, how important you are, and how
successful you are. Your peers can make you feel
like you fi t in and belong. At other times, they can
make you feel left out.
Teens can offer understanding to one another
as they face similar situations. They can share
common experiences and feelings. Peer relation-
ships help you learn what qualities you like or
dislike in a friend. You also learn to identify such
qualities within yourself. These interactions can
help you understand your own identity.
Your peers can also infl uence the plans you
make for your future. You may make decisions about
your education based on your peers’ choices. You
might seek your best friend’s opinion of your ideal
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Figure 1.16 Spending time together on common interests can help develop close friendships.
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