Identifying who adolescents prefer as source of information within their social network.

ABSTRACT: Adolescents are highly influenced by their peers within their social networks. This social influence can stem from both unsolicited peer pressure and the active search for guidance. While extensive research examined the mechanisms of peer pressure, little is known about who adolescents prefer as a source of information. To address this gap, we conducted two independent studies using a novel social search paradigm that allows participants to choose which social sources they wish to observe. In both studies, adolescents demonstrated a preference for their friends over non-friends, as well as for peers who were perceived as trustworthy. Across both studies, we found mixed evidence for the role of perceived popularity as a selection criterion. Notable, study 2 revealed the significance of "coo

SUBMITTER: Slagter SK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10662136 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature