Addiction - PEERS risk factors Flashcards
(9 cards)
What is the role of peer relationships in addiction?
For older children, peer relationships are often the most important psychosocial risk factor for addiction, even outweighing family influences. This is true even if the peers themselves have not used drugs.
What are the three major elements of peer influence as a risk factor for alcohol addiction (O’Connell et al., 2009)?
An adolescent’s attitudes and norms about drinking are influenced by associating with peers who drink.
Peers provide more opportunities for the at-risk individual to drink.
The individual overestimates how much their peers are drinking, leading them to drink more to keep up with the perceived norm.
How does peer influence extend beyond alcohol use to other addictions?
Peer influence can create a group norm that favours rule-breaking behaviour, which includes drug use. This process underpins virtually any addiction, not just alcohol.
What is normative social influence and how does it relate to addiction?
Normative social influence occurs when individuals engage in addictive behaviours to be accepted by their peers and avoid rejection or ridicule. The desire to fit in with the group encourages the adoption of harmful behaviours like drug use.
What role do social networks play in addictive behaviours among adolescents?
Adolescents tend to form social networks with individuals who share similar behaviours. Smokers befriend other smokers, and non-smokers form friendships with other non-smokers. This can create an environment where addictive behaviours are normalized.
How does social learning theory explain peer influence on addiction?
According to social learning theory, peers act as a form of vicarious reinforcement. Adolescents may observe and model the addictive behaviours of their peers, reinforcing the behaviour through the reward of social acceptance.
Outline Stock’s study supporting evidence for peers as a risk factor. How does it support this factor?
Stock (2011) found that teenagers who viewed peers’ Facebook profiles showing alcohol use were more likely to:
Be willing to use alcohol themselves,
Have more positive feelings towards alcohol,
Perceive lower risks associated with alcohol use.
This shows how social media can alter adolescents’ normative perceptions and risk cognitions related to alcohol.
This supports that peers are an important influence on addictive behaviour and suggests that peers have an influence on addiction.
Outline Eiser et al’s study supporting evidence for peers as a risk factor. How does it support this factor?
Eiser et al. (1989) found that perceived rewards like social status and popularity were significant reasons why adolescents begin smoking and continue to smoke. This supports the idea that peer influence plays a strong role in addictive behaviours, explained through operant conditioning (reinforcement of behaviour).
What is a limitation of research on peer pressure and its role in addiction?
It is difficult to establish whether peer pressure causes addictive behaviour or if individuals who are already prone to addiction select peer groups that reinforce their existing habits. Therefore, it may be that addictive behaviour leads to the formation of certain peer groups, rather than peer groups influencing addiction.
