SOCIAL INFLUENCES: Peers Flashcards
Define: peer group
a group comprising of people who have similar interests, do the same sorts of things and often associate or interact with one another
Define: peer
anyone who has one or more characteristics or roles in common with one or more individuals
Define: friendship
a positive relationship between two (or more) people who usually regard or treat each other in similar ways.
5 characteristics of adolescent peer groups?
Own norms/standards of acceptable behaviour
Own style of dressing, socialising, music…
Own attitude to smoking, drugs and drinking…
Own language or expressions
Discuss problems with each other but not “outsiders’
Define: clique
a small group of adolescent friends of similar age and generally of the same sex
Define: friendship clique
interaction-based grouping of peers who hang around each other, of varying degrees of closeness
(may be restricted to particular settings, eg. netball friends)
Define: peer pressure
social influence by peers to think, feel or behave in a particular way.
When are adolescents most likely to be affected by peer pressure?
Between 11-16 years, most at 14 years
Most affected by “best friends’
Is peer pressure always negative?
No; may be pressure against sex, drugs etc
Is peer pressure usually direct?
No, often stems from a desire to fit in; those on fringes of groups more likely to be affected
In what different forms do males and females experience it?
Females experience it more: socialising, dressing, relationships
Males: drugs, alcohol, sexual activity
