Surviving Peer Pressure: You Can Do It!

People experience peer pressure at various times in their lives, but during the formative teen years, peer pressure can be especially potent. Surviving Peer Pressure stands out from the crowd of similar titles for taking a proactive approach, suggesting that teens have a concrete plan in place long before a potentially difficult situation arises. Here, a friendly teacher named “Mr. Carson” works with a talented group of teen actors, who present five believable and typical peer pressure scenarios, such as a friend being asked to help cheat on an exam, someone encouraged to steal a small item, and kids getting drunk in a park, until one passes out. Each time, the situation starts out fairly low-key but escalates to a critical juncture without much warning—exactly as it happens in real teenage life. That's why the first strategy offered here is “keeping your antennae up”—i.e., being able to recognize peer pressure or manipulation. In addition, viewers are encouraged to trust their inner voices, talk to others (even another peer—but outside their usual social group), imagine their parents are watching them, and finally, to assess the risks. Before, during, and after each vignette, the central teen character and Mr. Carson review the applicable strategies and discuss potential outcomes. Nicely shot and edited, and well-acted, this is highly recommended. Aud: J, H. (E. Gieschen)