Lecture 6: Friends & Peers

Question 1

Rethinking emotions

Answer 1

There is this notion that emotions are like a lightbulb, they turn on and then their off. In reality, Emotions are much more of a continuum

Question 2

Storm and stress theory

Answer 2

Decrease in self control but increase in sensitivity. This idea fits with societies idea of adolescence, it also fits with our memories (availability heuristic). Some truth to this: emotional affect high in adolescence, and a downwards trend of self esteem

Question 3

Why do adolescents experience a decrease in self esteem?

Answer 3

Increased self awareness, uncertainty, adolescence experience a pile of up these changes/transitions and lead to a decrease

Question 4

Will Hipson’s research on emotions in adolescence

Answer 4

Grade 4-12 poetry. Analyzing the negative affect in their writing. In grade 7, 8, 9 you see a steep increase in negative emotions throughout their poetry

Question 5

What are some caveats/limitations of his research?

Answer 5

Not typical of all adolescents, Positive emotions are still more common (on average), Changes may reflect inflated self view in childhood

Question 6

What do graphs looking at stability of emotions in adolescence indicate?

Answer 6

during adolescence they become better at regulating their emotions and controlling how they feel

Question 7

So what is increasing during adolescence?

Answer 7

One of the main thing that increases is conflict (more specifically, parent-child conflict). In early adolescence conflict increases, but in late adolescence intensity of conflict increases (subject matter). Mood disruptions “pile up”. Risky behaviour often leads to negative consequences which adds to the difficulties

Question 8

Why are peers so important during adolescence?

Answer 8

Peer relationships are more rewarding
(Shared experience)
Peer opinion matters more. Intimacy in friendship and romantic relationships (Emotionally in sync
& Emotional closeness appears to be more important to girls than boys)

Question 9

What are friendships?

Answer 9

voluntary affiliations with greater closeness

Question 10

What are cliques?

Answer 10

interconnected friendships (usually share certain interests but do not all share same level of friendship)

Question 11

What are social groups?

Answer 11

e.g., classrooms, clubs etc., you tend to engage in certain activities or are put together for an amount of time, may not be friends with everyone.

Question 12

What characteristics predict friendship in young children?

Answer 12

Proximity (who’s around) and gender

Question 13

What characteristics predict friendship in adolescence?

Answer 13

Grade, SES, Shared activities (particularly sports), Problem behaviour

Question 14

What is the dark side of peer relations?

Answer 14

Peer pressure, Peer victimization, and co rumination

Question 15

What can we do about peer pressure?

Answer 15

Anticipate situations, Devise strategies, At least one friends also says ‘no’ (Friend with similar values)

Question 16

Peer Victimization

Answer 16

bullying peaks at
14-15 years or grade 9 What about different types of bullying. Physical bullying: declines with age. Relational and cyber bullying increase between 11-15 years of age and decrease thereafter. Ball study

Question 17

What is Co rumination?

Answer 17

Extensive discussing of problems and negative feelings. Double edged sword: Reinforces negative coping styles (dwelling on negative events is not good for you)
Promotes closeness (if rumination is balanced)

Question 18

Are girls or boys more likely to co ruminate?

Answer 18

Girls more likely to co ruminate. Why? Men are less likely to reveal their emotions, gender stereotypes and stigmas (men have to be manly)

Question 19

Is co rumination always bad for you?

Answer 19

Also depends on your personality whether its good or bad for you (highly social anxious people tend to be affected less negatively by co rumination- because it tends to expose them to social interaction and thus feel less lonely)

Question 20

Does time with family increase or decrease during adolescence?

Answer 20

Time with family decreases, Time with friends (especially other sex friends) increases. Prefer friends over family

Question 21

What are the benefits of social interaction/friendships?

Answer 21

beneficial for psychosocial development 
-Interpersonal skills, social functioning 
-Academic competence 
-Behavioural adjustment 
-Emotional adjustment 
Well-being

Question 22

What are the costs of being excluded from social interactions?

Answer 22

Peer exclusion, rejection, ostracism, and isolation associated with: Internalizing problems, Externalizing problems, Social difficulties

Question 23

what does exclusion lead to?

Answer 23

Psychological/emotional pain: Threatens need to belong (need to belong theory we all have this instinctive need to belong), Reduced self-esteem, Lack of control, Diminished sense of meaningful existence. Particularly harmful in adolescence

Question 24

Why do individuals feel particularly lonely during adolescence?

Answer 24

Loneliness peaks in adolescence, Extreme emotions and the Importance of peers

Question 25

What does Social withdrawal in adolescence lead to?

Answer 25

Leads to social and emotional difficulties, More time alone associated with negative adjustment outcomes, Especially in early adolescence

Question 26

What assumption do researchers make based on the fact that time with peer is beneficial for cognitive, social and emotional well being?

Answer 26

Assumption: lack of social interactions must be bad and costly

Question 27

What is the clinical perspective on time spent alone?

Answer 27

Increased time alone associated with psychopathology: Social anxiety disorder, Specific phobias (e.g., agoraphobia), Depression, Social anhedonia, Avoidant personality disorder, Schizophrenia, Hikikomori

Question 28

What are the postulated benefits of solitude?

Answer 28

Stress reduction, self renewal, Self exploration, self reflection, Inner peace, Productivity, Respite from social demands, Freedom, Creativity, Intimacy, Spirituality, Identity formation

Question 29

Is time alone greater than bad time together?

Answer 29

Yes, Not all social interactions & peer relationships are positive. Time alone as a strategy to avoid negative peer interactions. Friends are a source of most negative emotions: Anger, frustration, sadness, anxiety, Mirroring of negative emotions, co-rumination, Peer pressure to participate in risky behaviours, Peer aggression (physical and relational), Strong reliance on friends leads to emotional vulnerability.

Question 30

solitude as a paradox

Answer 30

Although we may actively seek time alone because of its self-enhancing functions, solitude is often experienced as an undesirable (and sometimes painful) state, the goldilocks priniciple

Question 31

How much is enough regarding solitude?

Answer 31

The ‘right amount’ might differ based on… Circumstances 
(External vs. internal reasons, Not all alone time is equal (engaged vs. disengaged, defining ‘time alone’) 
Individual differences (Preference for solitude, introversion, shyness, social anxiety, social anhedonia, etc.) and Developmental stages

Question 32

What competing influences are there from adolescence to emerging adulthood that effect amounts of solitude?

Answer 32

Social norms and expectations, autonomy, recognition of constructive beliefs, attitudes and beliefs

Question 33

Competing influences: social norms and expectations

Answer 33

Increased expectations for peer interactions (Broader networks, more intimate relationships) Peer pressure at its peak, Greater reliance on peer support, Solitude as particularly lonely, BUT: solitude as a refuge from social pressures/demands

Question 34

Competing influences: Autonomy

Answer 34

Expression of individuality
Greater independence/distance from family
More opportunity to be alone
Greater freedom to choose social experiences
Greater desire for privacy

Question 35

Competing influences: recognition of constructing beliefs

Answer 35

Cognitive maturation
Solitude as purposeful (Creativity, productivity, self-reflection, identity formation, Time to work through strong emotions)
Solitude as necessary for healthy adjustment
Greater enjoyment of time alone

Question 36

competing influences: attitudes and beliefs

Answer 36

Mounting appreciation for solitude
Met with less social criticism
Less socially stigmatizing and alienating
Solitude as more normative

Question 37

What is the changing implication of solitude?

Answer 37

Negative implications of solitude may decrease, May be particularly bad during adolescence because of increased social awareness and need to be accepted

Question 38

(A) social benefits for adolescent behaviour

Answer 38

Importance of social interactions more complex, More does not always equal better, Balance between social and alone time