Peer influence is “….how teenagers’ behaviour is shaped by wanting to feel they belong to a group of friends or peers” (Australian Government, Department of Social Services).
Peer influence is shaped by the complex web of social connections between students - their social networks. Students who are more connected have greater prominence, more ‘social sway’ – they have greater peer influence. Through this social prominence some students’ views and opinions are given more weight. If socially prominent students hold a certain attitude or engage in certain behaviours, then this becomes accepted as the norm for students – even for those students who disagree with such attitudes or behaviours. Socially prominent students know they can ostracise students – and students who disagree with them know this too. This is why some students act in ways teachers do not expect. Peer influence is a powerful force that can fight against formal school policies and expectations.
In another post in this blog, we discuss how peer influence underpins and critically influences student informal culture within the school. The desire to fit in may push students to act in ways that do not align with the formal school policies.
