Peer And Family Influences

• Observation and Imitation


  All behaviour is learned through experience - indirectly through observation and imitation of others in a social context
• Vicarious reinforcement


  Learner imitates behaviour if it results in rewards(reinforcement) rather than punishment
• The role of mediational processes


  1. Attention - we notice certain behaviour.

  2. Retention - a memory formed for it to be performed later.

  3. Motor reproduction - the ability of the observer to perform the behaviour.

  4. Motivation- will to perform the behaviour, determined by whether the observed behaviour was rewarded or

  punished.
• Modelling and Identification


  People, especially children, are more likely to imitate someone they identify with
• Family Influences Supporting Evidence ( AO3)

  Akers and Lee (1996)


  found in a longitudinal study investigating smoking in teenagers that social learning directly influenced whether they would try smoking for the first time, continue with the habit or attempt to quit.
• Family Influences Supporting Evidence (AO3)

  Wan-Sen Yen et al (2013)


  the severely addicted group had low family functioning levels, illustrating a lack of positive models or conversations around addictive behaviour.
• How do peers influence addiction?


  High level of social influence over susceptible individuals
• Peers (AO1) - Bullers et al (2001)


  Peers can provide either "positive or negative support networksˮ that promote recovery or relapse for addicts.
• Peers (AO3) - Kobus (2003)


  Factors such as the media, family and socioeconomic status have a greater impact than peers on the maintenance and development of addictive behaviours.
• Evaluation of Family and Peer Influences (AO3) - Overlooks importance of age


  Rich-Harris (1998) found that adolescents are most susceptible to peer influence and that the age and strength of a personʼs relationships change as they get older.
• Evaluation of Family and Peer Influences (AO3) - Oversimplifies cognitive processes

  Learning theory assumes young people simply observe a reward and are inclined to try addictive substances and behaviours.
• Evaluation of Family and Peer Influences (AO3) - Difficult to measure


  difficult to measure the impact of peers and families on addictive behaviours in a statistically significant manner