Effects of Peer Pressure There was a man named Troy who lived in Oklahoma. Troy was raised in a Christian home and was considered a great witness to his community and the local church. He worked in a factory about fifteen miles from his home. Well, one day after work, Troy's friends decided to take him out for a couple of drinks. Troy was a struggling alcoholic, the reason he was so respected is because everyone thought he beat alcoholism. After a night of laughing and drinking, Troy was left to drive himself to his house. On the way home he fainted and ran into traffic, but was not hit by another car. Troy hit a tree but on the passenger side of his car. He was unharmed and very grateful that he did not harm anyone or himself. The greatest influence in our lives are the people around us. So, like Troy, many people tend to give in to peer pressure involving their struggles. Peer pressure has a negative or positive effect, but peer pressure should not influence the Christian in spiritual matters. For starters, negative peer pressure can be really harmful to a person. Negative peer pressure occurs when people who are considered friends try to pressure or force someone to do something that will hurt them, put them in a bad situation, or hurt someone else. Taking Troy as an example, when his friends pushed him to do something, he struggled to do it, leaving him in a situation where he could hurt someone or himself. Sometimes, though, peer pressure can be used effectively for the right reasons. Positive peer pressure can be really helpful for a person who doesn't have the motivation to do something they need or to do something that will benefit the person under pressure. When a person surrounds themselves with people who they know will encourage them and help them make smart decisions in their life, that's when peer pressure can be a positive thing. If a college student is having trouble doing homework for a class due to laziness or an inability to concentrate. The college student's friends can gather and encourage him and remind him that he needs to do his homework to do well in school so he can have a chance at a better life.