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The Negative Impact of Peer Motivation in School
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The Negative Impact of Peer Motivation in School
Peer motivation refers to encouragement among students, primarily teenagers, to express
their own opinions, to participate freely in discussions, and the extent to which students are
encouraged to compare ideologies. Moreover, peer motivation refers to the extent to which
students learn from each other by involving themselves in discussions. Peer motivation among
students has negative and positive impacts on school and academics, home setting and parenting,
and the student's social life. The negative impacts of peer motivation in school include student
disrespect for authority and involvement in criminal behavior, including drug abuse, leading to
poor academic performance.
It is common for teens to have their rebellious phase, which includes disrespecting those
in authority, like teachers and school management. Students' lack of respect for authority may
include rude gestures, hair flipping, slamming doors, regularly breaking school rules, and rolling
eyes, among others. If not controlled, students' levels of indiscipline grow into behaviors that
may lead to the destruction of school property. Students who are rebellious to the authority
engage in activities like vandalism of school property. In addition, rebellious students are more
likely to engage in behavioral activities like conducting demonstrations, which lead them to
suspensions and expulsion from school. The above behaviors among students lead them to poor
academic performances, like scoring poor grades on tests. Therefore, peer motivation among
students leads to a lack of respect for teachers, other authority students, and school management
staff.
Peer motivation among students, especially teenagers, engage in criminal and dangerous
behaviors, including alcohol and drug abuse, unprotected sex, and stealing activities. Teenagers
are more likely to get convinced to abuse drugs due to curiosity associated with puberty, where
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teenagers are at high risk of trying out things (Latwal, 2021). Students in this stage are also more
likely to engage in love relationships, which may lead to unprotected sex, a risky health
behavior. Teenagers are more vulnerable to risky behaviors because their minds are not fully
developed, causing poor decision-making. Therefore, peer motivation among students leads to
students engaging in risky activities in school.
Students' behavior, especially in puberty, is mostly controlled by internal and external
factors. Cognitivism theory of learning explains best how a student's behavior relies on the
mind's role in learning. In cognitivism, a student's psychological development is crucial since it
defines their behavioral patterns at certain stages (Exline, 2021). Biblically, parents and teachers
are advised to bring up their kids according to the biblical teachings on what is right and wrong.
Students brought up in a Christian environment are less likely to engage in criminal activities
than those not brought up according to biblical teachings. In addition, the Bible guides teachers
and parents on how to approach and counsel children who are vulnerable to engaging in criminal
activities.
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References
Exline, E. (2021, September 15). 5 educational learning theories and how to apply them.
University of Phoenix. https://www.phoenix.edu/blog/educational-learning-
theories.html#:%7E:text=There%20are%20five%20primary
%20educational,transformative%2C%20social%2C%20and%20experiential.
Latwal, G. S. (2021). Alcohol Consumption: Role of Peer Pressure and Social Norms among
Management Students in Delhi.:IASSI Quarterly,:40(4).
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