The good and bad of peer pressure, with Brett Laursen, PhD

Also unclear is the contribution of social norms to the domains in which influence is exercised and to the success of influence attempts. Until recently, speculation on the interpersonal consequences of dissimilarity far outpaced research on the topic. We know that participants in stable adolescent friendships are more similar than those in unstable friendships on a host of adaptive and maladaptive traits (Hafen et al., 2011). Often overlooked is that comparisons of stable and unstable friendships are not sufficient to establish dissimilarity as a cause of friendship dissolution. A long list of undesirable individual characteristics has also been linked to friendship instability, consistent with the logic that some children are difficult company (Poulin & Chan, 2010). Nowhere has progress been more evident than in the area of school adjustment.

• Peer groups coalesce around priorities, which fosters the appearance of consensus about activities and comportment.
• Historically, research on peer influence has focused on maladaptive behavior.
• Little is known about whether and how peer experiences entrain the biological system and how the biological system influences peer experiences.
• This type of peer pressure can be exemplified in fashion choices, personal interactions, social behaviors, teams, parties, media, and groups of friends, among others.
• So, we can see peer influence in the very early grade school years.

Set Boundaries

Contemporary studies illustrate the scope of peer influence, documenting the extent to which friends and peer group members embrace similarity and confirming the social consequences of failing to do so. Variations in the exercise of influence have important implications for its functions (Brown et al., 2008). For friends, influence enhances compatibility and intimacy, facilitating shared affect and the smooth resolution of differences, which boosts felt security and confidence in the continuity of the relationship. For group members, influence enhances compatibility and uniformity, creating a hierarchy with mechanisms of enforcement that facilitate order, smooth functioning, and effective mobilization and organization.

Peer pressure on social media across cultures

It’s a reflection of internalized values and norms from your peer group, which can significantly challenge your sobriety and recovery progress. Being aware of the forms and impacts of which of the following is a type of indirect peer pressure? can empower you to make more informed choices. Recognizing the signs and finding strategies to cope with or resist these pressures is a vital skill in maintaining sobriety and ensuring the success of your recovery journey. Engaging in open discussions with your therapist, participating in support groups, and building a strong support system are effective ways to combat the negative influences of peer pressure. Our review paid particular attention to the prominence of popular peers.

New Evidence on Relationship Contexts

Adolescents are quick to adjust their behavior when they enter a new peer group, putting distance between themselves and the group they have left, so as to better resemble new friends and affiliates (Berger & Rodkin, 2012; Kiuru et al., 2010). The process differs from selection similarity in that adolescents https://ecosoberhouse.com/ are changing their behavior—just before or just after (the timing is not altogether clear) joining a new friendship group—in ways that increase similarity (Popp et al., 2008; Poulin et al., 2011). Doing so smooths the way for integration, minimizes threats to group cohesion, and reduces the risk of exclusion.

• Rather than worrying about the effects of their children’s friendships, parents would do well to focus on creating a positive, supportive home environment.
• When you’re faced with a choice, ask yourself what your reasons are for doing something.
• The rewards that flow from imitation promote similarity and increase the likelihood of further imitation (and greater similarity).
• On the other hand, indirect peer pressure doesn’t necessarily come with an explicit invitation to engage in drug use.
• In so doing, we do not intend to dismiss the relevance of fixed characteristics.

Positive Peer Pressure

“Teens have so much on their plates,” says Stacie Goran, LPC, LCDC, Teen Recovery Program Manager at Children’s Health℠. Recognizing these forms of peer pressure is the first step towards addressing them effectively. Engaging openly with your therapists about these pressures, participating in support groups, and building a recovery-centric social circle are essential strategies. These actions foster an environment where you can share experiences, learn strategies to resist peer pressure, and reinforce your commitment to a sober lifestyle. This occurs when you pressure yourself to engage in certain behaviors because you perceive them as necessary to be accepted or valued within your social circle.

The effects

Social Media in 한국어 (Korean)

• We know that children who have good relations with their parents feel that they have less of a need to please their friends.
• Sometimes a group can make subtle signals without saying anything at all — letting you know that you must dress or talk a certain way or adopt particular attitudes toward school, other students, parents, and teachers in order to win acceptance and approval.
• Current empirical efforts probably underestimate the magnitude of peer influence, because influence sometimes takes the form of resisting change.
• For the individual affected by peer pressure, this can have both a positive or negative effect on them.
• The theory of reasoned action (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975) holds that behaviors are a function of intentions, and intentions are a product of attitudes about behaviors and perceptions of subjective norms.

• The brain parts that play the biggest role in peer pressure are the medial prefrontal cortex and the striatum.
• Her team studies how peers affect teens’ driving behaviors and smoking decisions.
• The rapid onset of a diverse array of maladaptive behaviors during the early years of adolescence occurs at the same time as important shifts in the social world, the most obvious being the increasing salience of peers.
• They exercise that freedom by expanding the scope and frequency of activities with friends, in person, and online.
• However, if it gives rise to feelings of inadequacy or defeat, or if we start feeling anxious that our friends are able to easily accomplish things that we are struggling with, then the same examples of peer pressure can be harmful to our well-being.
• The positive effects are the pressures that bring about stability, adherence to work ethics and the need to stay competitive.