engleski

Cognitive Aspects of Peer Preassure

Peer influence is inevitable and important part of growing up, one’s identity development and forming behavioural habits. Peer relations become more important during the adolescence and there is an increasing need for an adolescent to do what his/her peers are demanding from him/her. Peer pressure can be defined as direct peer instigation, persuasion or threat for the manifestation of certain behaviour McIntosh, MacDonald & McKeganey, 2003). Berndt and Ladd (1989) define peer pressure as a group influence by offering desirable awards to those who conform to group norms and/or undesirable sanction to those who resist them. The aim of study was to examine relation between susceptibility to peer pressure and self-perception in urban adolescents in Croatia and to explain gender differences. The sample consisted of 940 participants, 7th and 8th grade primary school students and 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade secondary school students, 418 boys and 520 girls ages 12-18 ( M=14, 82). Two Questionaires were applied: Adolescents’ Peer Pressure Scale (Lebedina Manzoni, Lotar, Ricijas, 2008) was specially constructed for this research, with 22 items grouped in 5 domains: Relations with peers, Adjustment of appearance, Relations with parents, Misconduct and School activities. Susan’s Harter Self – Perception Profile for Adolescents (1988), which contains nine subscales. Eight of them examine specific domains of self-perception and the last one examines global self-worth. The results shows connection between peer preassure and self perception – the greatest with domain of behaviour control, general self worth and physical appearance. According to amount of correlation it seems that behaviour control is key factor in susceptibility to peer pressure of adolescent regardless gender. This result shows the greatest role of cognitive factors and their influence on self control in many aspects of behaviour and well being. This submission is the most suitable for professionals who are interested in different aspects of behaviour in adolescence and their connection with cognition, with impact in treatment.

susceptibility to peer pressure; self-perception; adolescence

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