peer pressure

/pɪr ˈprɛʃər/

Other forms: peer pressured; peer pressures; peer pressuring

If you do something only because your friends expect you to, you're giving in to peer pressure.

If everyone at school wears sneakers, you might feel like you should ditch your clompy work boots and lace up a pair of tennis shoes. That's a subtle kind of peer pressure, though; it's important to make sure you're doing things because they feel right, not just because everyone around you does them. Your peers are members of your social group, people of a similar age and status. The pressure they exert can be stronger than you might think!

Definitions of peer pressure

1. noun

   the influence or effect of one's social group to act a certain way in order to be accepted or respected
2. verb

   compel a person to do something or act a certain way, especially in front of others