Peer Influence
Social Learning Theory (SLT)
Bandura (1977)
Learning is learnt through observation, imitation and modelling
Main processes:
- Attention
- Retention
- Reproduction
- motivation
Contributing factors:
- Same gender
- Similar age/older
- powerful/high status
- friendly/likeable
1. Classical Conditioning
Pleasant feeling is gained from taking particular substance is associated with the stimuli
associated with it
2. Operant Conditioning
Consequences of a particular behaviour may reinforce that behaviour
Perceived Social Norms
Within a culture, there are subcultural groups that have their own social norms
Bosari and Carey (2001)
- Identified descriptive norms -> people may overestimate the descriptive and injunctive
norms of the people around them (drinking, smoking)
- Identified injunctive norms -> what an individual perceives as others’ approval of the
behaviour
Perkins and Berkowitz (1986)
- Found that a high proportion of students believed that being intoxicated was only
acceptable in limited circumstances
- A high proportion also thought that their peers believed that it was acceptable
Evaluation
+ Has a lot of supporting evidence
+ Many studies suggest that peer group behavior and attitudes are related to addictive
behaviour
Simon- Morton et al (2010)
- Reviewed 40 prospective studies into relationship between peers and smoking
- All but one showed a positive correlation
- Supports the link between peers’ behaviour and engagement in addictive behaviour
Cause and effect
- There’s a lot of evidence that peer group behaviour and attitudes are linked to addictive
behaviour
Social Learning Theory (SLT)
Bandura (1977)
Learning is learnt through observation, imitation and modelling
Main processes:
- Attention
- Retention
- Reproduction
- motivation
Contributing factors:
- Same gender
- Similar age/older
- powerful/high status
- friendly/likeable
1. Classical Conditioning
Pleasant feeling is gained from taking particular substance is associated with the stimuli
associated with it
2. Operant Conditioning
Consequences of a particular behaviour may reinforce that behaviour
Perceived Social Norms
Within a culture, there are subcultural groups that have their own social norms
Bosari and Carey (2001)
- Identified descriptive norms -> people may overestimate the descriptive and injunctive
norms of the people around them (drinking, smoking)
- Identified injunctive norms -> what an individual perceives as others’ approval of the
behaviour
Perkins and Berkowitz (1986)
- Found that a high proportion of students believed that being intoxicated was only
acceptable in limited circumstances
- A high proportion also thought that their peers believed that it was acceptable
Evaluation
+ Has a lot of supporting evidence
+ Many studies suggest that peer group behavior and attitudes are related to addictive
behaviour
Simon- Morton et al (2010)
- Reviewed 40 prospective studies into relationship between peers and smoking
- All but one showed a positive correlation
- Supports the link between peers’ behaviour and engagement in addictive behaviour
Cause and effect
- There’s a lot of evidence that peer group behaviour and attitudes are linked to addictive
behaviour
