Mechanisms of Peer Influence: Leveraging Our Knowledge of Adolescent Socialization Processes to...
description
Transcript of Mechanisms of Peer Influence: Leveraging Our Knowledge of Adolescent Socialization Processes to...
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