Peer Pressure and the Science Behind It
Have you ever wondered why teenagers take so many great risks around their friends when otherwise, they would be perfectly innocent? Well, psychologists at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania sure did. They asked 40 teens; 14 young teenagers (whose ages ranged from 14 to 18 years), 14 college students, and 12 young adults to participate in their study. In this study, they used functional magnetic resonance imaging scans, also called MRIs, to see if there was a difference in brain activity between the teens when alone and when accompanied by their friends.
The way they conducted their study was by asking the teens to play a driving video, which lasted six minutes, while they were in the brain scan. The teenagers were given cash prizes at the end of the game. The game had to be completed in a certain time, meaning they had to make decisions; to wait, and be delayed a bit by yellow lights, or to skip the yellow lights, which could result in a faster time and more cash, but it would also result in a car crash, and an even bigger delay. This was done four times; two times by themselves, and the other two times, the teens were told that two friends of the same sex were in another room, watching them play.
After they tested all the participants, they found that college students and young adults didn’t react differently when their friends were watching, but the young teens skipped 40% more yellow lights when their friends were watching, and also had 60% more crashes. The images of the brain activity showed that the reward area in the brain was much more active when others were watching.
Dr. Steinberg, the leader of this study at Temple University believes that his study has given people a new perspective of peer pressure; that peer pressure is no longer just when the friends are with them, but that it also occurs when the friends are in a different room. “...the brain system involved in reward processing is also involved in the processing of social information, explaining why peers can have such a pronounced effect on decision-making. ‘The effect is believed to be especially strong in teenagers because brain changes shortly after puberty appear to make young people more attentive and aware of what other people are thinking about them’, Dr. Steinberg said.”
Personally, I believe that peer pressure is something that should definitely not be taken lightly. I believe that this study is very precise, but I still think that they should expand the number of people tested, and also expand the places where the participants come from. I also think that this data helps parents and helps teens understand just how serious peer pressure can affect you, because even if it is just a video game, it ties into real life. The psychologists were testing to see a difference in brain activity, and they triggered the risk and reward factor. I think that teens accept peer pressure not only to make themselves look more daring, but it may also be because the teen may want to become more popular, or they are worried that if they don’t take chances or risks, their reputation will have a very steep drop.
This also ties in with drug use, which is a key thing now days, reminding each parent that peer pressure can affect the future of their children. This study was very effecting in warning parents, and letting them know what goes on in their teen’s minds while they do their every day actions.
Parker-Pope, Tara. "Teenagers, Friends and Bad Decisions." 3 Feb. 2011. The New York Times. 7 Nov. 2011 http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/teenagers-friends-and-bad-decisions/
The way they conducted their study was by asking the teens to play a driving video, which lasted six minutes, while they were in the brain scan. The teenagers were given cash prizes at the end of the game. The game had to be completed in a certain time, meaning they had to make decisions; to wait, and be delayed a bit by yellow lights, or to skip the yellow lights, which could result in a faster time and more cash, but it would also result in a car crash, and an even bigger delay. This was done four times; two times by themselves, and the other two times, the teens were told that two friends of the same sex were in another room, watching them play.
After they tested all the participants, they found that college students and young adults didn’t react differently when their friends were watching, but the young teens skipped 40% more yellow lights when their friends were watching, and also had 60% more crashes. The images of the brain activity showed that the reward area in the brain was much more active when others were watching.
Dr. Steinberg, the leader of this study at Temple University believes that his study has given people a new perspective of peer pressure; that peer pressure is no longer just when the friends are with them, but that it also occurs when the friends are in a different room. “...the brain system involved in reward processing is also involved in the processing of social information, explaining why peers can have such a pronounced effect on decision-making. ‘The effect is believed to be especially strong in teenagers because brain changes shortly after puberty appear to make young people more attentive and aware of what other people are thinking about them’, Dr. Steinberg said.”
Personally, I believe that peer pressure is something that should definitely not be taken lightly. I believe that this study is very precise, but I still think that they should expand the number of people tested, and also expand the places where the participants come from. I also think that this data helps parents and helps teens understand just how serious peer pressure can affect you, because even if it is just a video game, it ties into real life. The psychologists were testing to see a difference in brain activity, and they triggered the risk and reward factor. I think that teens accept peer pressure not only to make themselves look more daring, but it may also be because the teen may want to become more popular, or they are worried that if they don’t take chances or risks, their reputation will have a very steep drop.
This also ties in with drug use, which is a key thing now days, reminding each parent that peer pressure can affect the future of their children. This study was very effecting in warning parents, and letting them know what goes on in their teen’s minds while they do their every day actions.
Parker-Pope, Tara. "Teenagers, Friends and Bad Decisions." 3 Feb. 2011. The New York Times. 7 Nov. 2011 http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/teenagers-friends-and-bad-decisions/
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