Does peer pressure change as teens get older?
Yes. The ways that adolescents influence one another does change as teens get older. Development of close friendships and peer connectedness are a normal part of adolescent emotional development. Friendships formed during the teen years can last a lifetime. Adolescence is a time of striking emotional and cognitive changes. Parents are usually quick to recognize their child’s progression through puberty, marked by increases in height and weight, the growth of facial hair or onset of acne. Parents may be less aware of the emotional and cognitive growth their child undergoes during the teen years. While rates of adolescent emotional development vary and transitions are not necessarily smooth, adolescents usually progress through three distinct stages. The role of peers and peer pressure during these stages is described below. Early adolescence — is marked by self-absorption and the early struggle for independence. During early adolescence, teens start to become less interested in what the
