Social Psychological Explanation 1: Peer Influences Flashcards
Albert Bandura (1977, 1986)
Outlined social learning theory, which emphasises the role that social factors can have on behaviour.
What are the two key processes of SLT?
- Observing a role model. This is someone they identify with and admire.
- Vicarious reinforcement
What is vicarious reinforcement?
If a role model is reinforced in some way for their behaviour then the individual anticipates similar outcomes and rewards themselves and is likely to repeat the behaviour.
How is SLT applied to addictive behaviours?
An individual might see their peers smoking. Those peers might be people they look up to and these peers are being ‘rewarded’ through having a higher social status and are seen to be enjoying it. Therefore the individual engages in the behaviour as well
Perceived social norms
Social norms are the rules of behaviour that are considered acceptable within a particular social group. Perceptions of these normals among peer groups can have an effect on an individual’s behaviour.
Name the two types of social norms
Descriptive and injunctive norms (borsari and carey, 2001)
What are descriptive norms?
An individual’s perception of how much others engage in behaviours such as drinking or smoking.
What are injunctive norms?
What an individual perceived as others’ approval of the behaviour
How can these norms be applied to addictive behaviours (alcohol)?
Students overestimate the amount of alcohol their peers are drinking (descriptive norms) and also that it is more socially acceptable (injunctive norm)
Wesley Perkins and Alan Berkowitz (1986)
Found that a high proportion of the students they surveyed believed that being intoxicated was only acceptable in limited circumstances. However, a high proportion also thought that they peers believed that is was acceptable.
