Or they may be more sensitive to social signals, like the tone of someone’s voice or their body language.ĭr. They may be more sensitive to feeling included or excluded by others. Some people seem to be more easily influenced than others, too. Her team studies how peers affect teens’ driving behaviors and smoking decisions. “Research shows that even just having another peer around can change the reward response in the brain and also the risk-taking tendencies of teenagers,” says Falk. But taking part in risky behaviors, like drinking alcohol or smoking, can lead to health or legal consequences. Being influenced on things like clothing choices and musical taste can help teens learn to fit in and make friends. Understanding other people’s values and being influenced by them are important parts of socializing. It’s also activated by social rewards, like getting a compliment.Īnd teens are just learning to navigate the social world. It’s activated by things we enjoy, like eating good food. The reward system is a brain circuit that causes feelings of pleasure. At the same time, the reward system in the teen brain becomes extra sensitive. That’s because their brains undergo changes that make them highly attuned to social situations. Teens are especially responsive to peer influence. This is called social, or peer, influence. She studies how social networks affect decision making. Emily Falk at the University of Pennsylvania. “People care about what others think across all different age groups-and that influences how much they value different ideas and behaviors,” says Dr. That can affect what you choose to do.īut this work also suggests that you can harness the power of social relationships to gain healthier habits-and motivate others to do the same. Studies have found that activity in certain brain areas changes when other people are around. Scientists are still trying to untangle why that is. Examples include how much you exercise, how much alcohol you drink, whether you smoke, and what foods you eat. You also become more like your friends over time. People do tend to choose friends who are similar to them. Do birds of a feather really flock together? The science says yes.
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