It has become an epidemic in society: People care far too much about what others think . Many of us base our purchasing decisions around what we think others will like. How many times have you bought an article of clothing or item for the house because you've thought it's the one people will fancy the most? Or, worse, you have people with you at the store tell you which product they prefer, and you end up going with that one. Many people go so far as to only date men or women who receive someone else's stamp of approval - be it a friend or relative. While it's fine to seek recommendations from other people, we mustn't get into the habit of mindlessly letting them make decisions for us. After all, we all have our own tastes and opinions. We still have a responsibility to do our own research before we commit to making an important decision -- whether it's to buy a house or get a master's degree. Unfortunately, far too many of us take others' advice...

Society puts immense pressure on us to fit in to groups and hew to their norms. But doing so can feel like abandoning our individuality and compromising our beliefs and principles. What's worse, studies have found that when a person is cajoled into doing something they truly wish not to do -- whether it's smoking, taking drugs, or losing his virginity -- it can have serious ramifications. In fact, researchers found that people who grudgingly engaged in said behaviors were later found to be at a greater risk of suffering from substance abuse, alcoholism, and other problems. As if that weren't enough, it can detrimentally affect our self-worth and self-esteem, leading to feelings of anger and resentment. Peer pressure is alive and well, it seems. It's imperative that parents be well informed about their kids' social circles at school. After all, peers exert considerable influence on a child's life. But the pressure to do something against one's will isn'...