Susceptibility to peer pressure is often defined as a group influence by offering desirable awards to those who conform to group norms and/or undesirable sanctions to those who resist them (Berndt & Ladd, 1989). Lebedina-Manzoni, Lotar & Ricijaš (2009) found that perceptions of peer pressure are clustered in 5 domains: 1. Relations with peers ; 2. Adjustment of appearance ; 3. Relations with parents ; 4. School activities and 5. Misconduct. These findings are similar to those of Brown, Clasen, & Eicher (1986). Lebedina-Manzoni, Lotar & Ricijaš (2008) have shown that students with lower self-esteem emphasize importance of peer group for positive self-image development, and are more prone to changing their opinions, values and attitudes under peer pressure. They also fear of negative group evaluation. The aim of this research is to determine how well is adolescents’ susceptibility to peer pressure explained with their perception of themselves and perception of relationships with their friends. It is expected that susceptibility to peer pressure is better explained with adolescents’ perception of peer pressure and their attachment to friends than with their self-perception and social anxiety. Sample consists of 1000 elementary and high-school students from four major cities in Croatia (13 to 18 years of age). The following instruments were applied: Susceptibility to Peer Pressure Scale and Perception of Peer Pressure Scale (Lebedina-Manzoni et al., 2009), Experiences in Close Relationship Inventory (Brennan et al., 1998), Self-Perception Profiles for Adolescents (Harter, 1998), and Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents (Vulić-Prtorić, 2003). Data analysis is still in progress. |