Susceptible to Social Influence: Risky “Driving” in Response to Peer Pressure1

Abstract

In 2 studies, college students were socially influenced to be risky or not in a driving simulation. In both studies, confederate peers posing as passengers used verbal persuasion to affect driving behavior. In Study 1, participants encouraged to drive riskily had more accidents and drove faster than those encouraged to drive slowly or not encouraged at all. In Study 2, participants were influenced normatively or informationally to drive safely or riskily. As in Study 1, influence to drive riskily increased risk taking. Additionally, informational influence to drive safely resulted in the least risk taking. Together, the studies highlight the substantial influence of peers in a risk‐related situation; in real life, peer influence to be risky could contribute to automobile accidents.

Adolescent Susceptibility to Deviant Peer Pressure: Does Gender Matter?

“…Despite this caveat, among these 26 studies, we identified that 46% of studies (n = 12) suggest males are more prone to experience deviant peer pressure than females, yet 46% of the studies (n = 12) also found no gender difference in susceptibility to deviant peer pressure. A small minority of studies (n = 2; Nahom et al 2001;Shepherd et al 2011) demonstrated a greater female proneness to be susceptible to peer pressure. Thus, our review of the literature does not appear to support the argument that adolescent females are more susceptible to deviant peer pressure.…”

“…Moreover, the issue of domain specificity may shed light on another finding in the present review: the small minority of studies (n = 2; Nahom et al 2001;Shepherd et al 2011) that demonstrated a greater female proneness to be susceptible to peer pressure. For example, Nahom et al (2001) relied on a single, domain-specific item: peer pressure to have sexual intercourse.…”

Peer Passengers: How Do They Affect Teen Crashes?

“…Current literature supports two hypothesized mechanisms: (1) explicit or implicit encouragement of risk taking [9,10] and (2) distraction [11]. These theories have been supported by direct observation studies [9,10], laboratory-based experimental studies [12][13][14], and teen drivers' reports of peer distraction and encouragement of risky driving [11,15,16]. Several of these studies have also reported statistical interactions between passenger and driver gender; specifically, the presence of male passengers leads to riskier driving behaviors, regardless of driver gender, but particularly when traveling with a male driver [9,10].…”

It’s Time to Celebrate: How Can Restaurateurs Make Special Occasions Even Better?

“…Moreover, Banerjee and Dittmar (2007) argued that consumers often try to avoid losing a sense of belonging in social groups and thus strive to participate in special occasions. Through social influences, the presence of others and their perceptions or preferences can change members' behavior (Sheperd, Lane, Tapscott, & Gentile, 2011); in this case, consumers may feel pressured to dine at restaurants during special occasions. Thus: H6: Subjective norms have a positive effect on consumer intention to dine at restaurants during special occasions.…”