Photo Credit: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / dolgachov
A few months ago, I wrote about motivation and referenced the famous Nike “Just do it!” slogan, which got me thinking about some other 1980s and 1990s advertising campaigns and their celebrity messengers. One of the classics that came to mind was the “Just say no!” campaign championed by first lady Nancy Reagan, which encouraged young people to stand up to their peers and say “no” to drugs. The root of the message was a simple call to resist the pressure from friends and society and to make individual, positive choices. An unfortunate byproduct of that campaign and others like it is that many people have skewed perceptions of “peer pressure” as only a negative. However, when harnessed effectively, peer pressure or peer influence can be a powerful tool in supporting and maintaining positive choices.
About You
Take a minute to think about a few groups that you are, or have been a part of (or better yet, in charge of). First, think about a group that had an overwhelming positive feel and culture. Who were the tone setters? What happened when the group faced adversity or when one or more members did something disruptive or unproductive? Now think about a group that felt chaotic and uncomfortable. Who were the tone setters in that group? How were adversity and any disruptions addressed?
When you reflect on the positive group experience, the people who are the most salient in your memory are likely overwhelmingly positive, calm, and probably charismatic. When reflecting on a negative experience, the individuals who come to mind were likely unhappy and disruptive, and probably demanded a disproportionate amount of everyone’s time and attention to address their behavior(s) or interpersonal issues. In general, a group’s dynamic and overall culture is shaped by a few key individuals. The good news for those who work in recreation is that by understanding how and why individuals become influential, they can be proactive in working behind the scenes to encourage groups to look to positive rather than disruptive tone setters.