Peer Pressure vs. Coercion

Sometimes, peer pressure can take a scary turn. Instead of telling you to make fun of another student because “it’ll make you cool,” your friend tells you to make fun of the student or they’ll “beat you up.” In a situation like this, peer pressure has turned into coercion. Coercion is forcing someone to do something that they don’t want to by intimidating them or threatening them.  Coercion commonly involves an element of fear.

"Andrew and John are good friends. There is a big math test in school, and John hasn’t studied for it. John needs to pass the test in order to pass the class. As they are walking into the classroom, John says to Andrew, “Hey, you’ll sit by me and help me out with this, won’t you?” Andrew says, “I don’t think so, John. I can’t afford to get caught.” John says, “Come on, Andrew. If you don’t help me out, I’ll tell Maria what you said earlier” Andrew then says, “Okay, but I’m not going to do this again, all right?”

State of South Carolina Department of Education Comprehensive Health Education Instructional Units and Resources for Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault Prevention Standards and Performance Indicators pg. 88"

Why is this an example of coercion? Because John threatened Andrew into helping him.