In their daily lives, many people make decisions based on social pressure. This leads them to say yes to plans that they really don’t feel like going for, to follow trends or to do things because “everyone does them.” Although it does not have to be something negative, this connotation is often attributed to it, especially because it can become a manipulation tool. Low self-esteem or fear of rejection are some of the most common reasons behind choosing to give in to social pressure.
The consequence for these individuals is that their decisions are not free, which can lead to regrets and frustrations in the future. Feeling insecure, lacking self-confidence, or feeling deprived of a defined personality are often symptoms of someone who tends to give in to social pressure. It is not necessary to go to the extreme and dedicate yourself to swimming against the current, but you can undertake a series of strategies with which to prevent social pressure from taking over the rudder.
The greatest work that must be done to not always give in to what is expected of one begins with personal development. Anyone who considers themselves to be an “extremely impressionable” person who is “excessively” affected by social pressure will do well to follow the instructions of psychologist Sonia Castro to remedy this tendency.
