Peer Pressure &Peer Pressure &Parental MonitoringParental Monitoring

in Adolescencein Adolescence

Michael Hoerger

IntroductionIntroduction• Teenage years are a vulnerable time due Teenage years are a vulnerable time due

to major physical, cognitive, social, and to major physical, cognitive, social, and emotional changesemotional changes

• Risky behaviors, such as drinking, Risky behaviors, such as drinking, smoking, using drugs, or having sex can smoking, using drugs, or having sex can cause problems when used in excesscause problems when used in excess

• To prevent problems, developmental To prevent problems, developmental psychologists must accurately determine psychologists must accurately determine the most important causesthe most important causes

3 Potential Culprits3 Potential Culprits• Psychologists and the media focus on 3 Psychologists and the media focus on 3

central causes: peer influence, peer central causes: peer influence, peer selection, and parental monitoringselection, and parental monitoring

• Peer Influence (socialization):Peer Influence (socialization):• Includes obvious persuasion attempts, Includes obvious persuasion attempts,

commonly referred to as “peer pressure”commonly referred to as “peer pressure”• Includes subtle forms, such as group norms, Includes subtle forms, such as group norms,

values, and expectations (e.g. everyone else values, and expectations (e.g. everyone else is having sex)is having sex)

• Peer Selection: choosing peers who Peer Selection: choosing peers who have similar attitudes and behaviorshave similar attitudes and behaviors

• Obvious example: you like smoking or Obvious example: you like smoking or drinking, so you seek out friends who also drinking, so you seek out friends who also like to smoke and drinklike to smoke and drink

• Subtle example #1: risk takingSubtle example #1: risk taking

• Subtle example #2: Subtle example #2: depressiondepression

• Parental Monitoring: parental involvement, Parental Monitoring: parental involvement, support, communication, and attentionsupport, communication, and attention• Obvious examples: cell phone tracking Obvious examples: cell phone tracking

devices, calling you at a friend’s house, devices, calling you at a friend’s house, meeting all friends in advancemeeting all friends in advance

• Subtle examples: asking about your day, Subtle examples: asking about your day, attending a soccer gameattending a soccer game

DiscussionDiscussion

Of the three culprits what matters most?Of the three culprits what matters most?

Peer influence… Peer influence…

Peer selection…Peer selection…

Parental monitoring?Parental monitoring?

Are there any additionalAre there any additional

factors that play a role?factors that play a role?

Teen SmokingTeen Smoking

Findings from Smoking ResearchFindings from Smoking Research

• Peer Influence does not matterPeer Influence does not matter• Having a lot of friends who smoke did not Having a lot of friends who smoke did not

lead to changes in one’s smoking behaviorlead to changes in one’s smoking behavior

• Peer selection does matterPeer selection does matter• If you smoke, you’re likely to choose more If you smoke, you’re likely to choose more

and more friends who smokeand more friends who smoke

• Parental monitoring does matter:Parental monitoring does matter:• Being an involved parent, having high Being an involved parent, having high

expectations, and monitoring the teen’s expectations, and monitoring the teen’s behavior prevent increases in smokingbehavior prevent increases in smoking

• Responsive parenting (increasing efforts Responsive parenting (increasing efforts when problems are observed) is most when problems are observed) is most effectiveeffective

Paper #2Paper #2

• Due Wednesday!Due Wednesday!• Remember: two copies of the paper, Remember: two copies of the paper,

one copy of each articleone copy of each article• 4 scientific sources, no more than 1 can 4 scientific sources, no more than 1 can

be a scientific reviewbe a scientific review• Do proof-readDo proof-read• Do e-mail me if you have questions or Do e-mail me if you have questions or

concernsconcerns

Michael HoergerMichael Hoerger

To cite this lecture:To cite this lecture:• Hoerger, M. (2007, March 19). Hoerger, M. (2007, March 19). Peer Peer

Pressure and Parental MonitoringPressure and Parental Monitoring. . Presented at a PSY 220 lecture at Central Presented at a PSY 220 lecture at Central Michigan University.Michigan University.