Peers and Adolescence

Introduction
As children grow, develop and move into early adolescence, involvement with one’s peers and the attraction of peer identification increases. As adolescence brings rapid physical, emotional and social changes, an individual may begin to question adult standards and the need for parental guidance. They then find it reassuring to turn to their friends for advice and guidance. They need friends who can understand and sympathize. Friends who are in the same difficult period in their lives. By trying on new values and testing their ideas with their peers, rather then adults, there is with less fear of being ridiculed. Yet, mention the expression ‘peer pressure’ and many adults cringes because the words are laden with negative connotations.

Aim
The aim of our research was to investigate whether peers have a large influence on an individual’s adolescence with close reference to consumption of alcohol, smoking, fashion and hobbies.

Hypothesis
Peers do affect and ...