Peer influence

This article provides an overview of foundational concepts and definitions relevant to peer influence. Theories of peer influence mechanisms are discussed from multiple perspectives, including identity-based models, behavior-based models, and the influence compatibility model. The multiple behaviors to which adolescents may conform are discussed, as well as the disparate ways peer influence has been operationalized and measured by scholars. Research examining multiple sources of social influence (e.g., parents, closest friends, and popular peers) is summarized, as well as how adolescents reconcile potentially conflicting influence from multiple sources. Susceptibility to peer influence, and several moderators of peer influence effects are described. Finally, crucial future directions for peer influence research are discussed.