Mechanisms of Peer Influence:

Leveraging Our Knowledge of Adolescent Socialization

Processes to Promote Effective Development

Mitch Prinstein, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel HillYouth-NEX Conference, University of Virginia

What behaviors are influenced by peers?

Externalizing Symptoms Illegal/violent behavior Aggression

Substance Use Alcohol, nicotine use Marijuana use “Hard” drugs

Sexual risk behaviors Internalizing Symptoms

Depressive symptoms Suicidality

Other Health Risk Behaviors Weight-related behaviors Nonsuicidal self injury

Prosocial and Health-Promotion Behaviors

Substantial Empirical Support

Emerging Empirical Support

New Area for Research

Homophily

Selection EffectsSocialization Effects

Youths’ Attitudes and

Behaviors

Peers’ Attitudes and

Behaviors

Why are youths’ and peers’ behaviors similar?

Avenues to Use Peer Influence for Good, Not Evil

Who are the sources of peer influence? How does peer influence work?

Who are the sources of peer influence?

Very best friends Friendship Groups (Cliques) Romantic Partners Popular youth Members of Similar Peer Crowds Aggregated Peers (e.g., within group

therapy, classroom placements, prison inmates)

“Peers” depicted in media

Negotiating converging/diverging messages from various sources of influence

Not Likely!

Perhaps?

Amenable to Change?

How does peer influence work?

Overt/Explicit Peer Pressure Social Mimicry/Response Evocation Deviancy Training Social Norms/Identity Enhancement Theories

How does peer influence work?

Overt/Explicit Peer Pressure Social Mimicry/Response Evocation Deviancy Training Social Norms/Identity Enhancement Theories

Peers’ Attitudes and

Behaviors

Youths’ Attitudes and

Behaviors

Identity-Based Theories

Youths’ Perceptions of their Peers’

Attitudes and Behaviors

Intervention Target

Biased Perceptions of Peers’ Attitudes and Behaviors

Erroneous estimations of social norms (descriptive norms) Aggressive-rejected youth Prior engagement in the health risk behavior (i.e.,

false consensus effects) Social norms interventions

Biased Perceptions of Peers’ Attitudes and Behaviors

Erroneous estimations of social norms (descriptive norms) Aggressive-rejected youth Prior engagement in the health risk behavior (i.e.,

false consensus effects) Social norms interventions

Erroneous estimations of social norms (injunctive norms) Pluralistic ignorance Attitudinal interventions

Adolescents’ Perceptions of “Typical” Peer Crowd Members’ Behavior

Out-group perceived norms(e.g., Non-Populars’ perceptions of Populars)

In-group perceived norms(e.g., Populars’ perceptions of Populars)

Actual behaviors (e.g., Populars’ report of their own actual behavior)

Sexual Intercourse

Sexual Intercourse

Sexual Intercourse

Cigarette Use

Exercise

StudyingLi

kert

scal

e

How does peer influence work?

Overt/Explicit Peer Pressure Social mimicry/response evocation Deviancy Training Social Norms/Identity Enhancement Theories Anti-conformity!

Question #16. You are at a concert with your friend and your friend’s older brother. The brother offers you a marijuana cigarette. Do you:a. Smoke the ‘joint’b. Take one drag of the ‘joint’ and then no morec. Tell him you don’t feel doing that todayd. Say “No thanks”e. Say, “I don’t smoke pot”f. Tell the brother, “You know you really shouldn’t smoke that stuff”

A B ABest Friends Joe A. Bonnie L.Hobbies: Going to parties Hanging with friends

Best Friends: Scott G. Brad B.Hobbies: Playing/watching sports Going to parties

Best Friends: Patrick T. Robert P.Hobbies:Hanging with friendsPlaying/watching sports

Best Friends:

Hobbies:

Person 1 Person 2 Person 3 You

*(DV)

Participants’ PopularityModerates Conformity Effect

Pros

ocia

l

D

evia

nt

Participants’ PopularityModerates Conformity Effect

Pros

ocia

l

D

evia

nt

Conclusion

More research on prosocial influences Manage messaging that informs social norms

re/adaptive behavior Further study of anti-conformity