Conformity
Review of Related Literature and Studies
This chapter presents the different related literature and studies; both local and foreign, which supports the researchers on this study. It is also a review of the existing literature relevant to the topic of social conformity among adolescents. A. Related Literature (Foreign)
Adolescent’s social conformity can be described as the influence exerted by a peer group in encouraging a person to change his or her attitudes, values, or behaviors to conform to the group. A person affected by conformity may or may not want to belong to these groups. They may also recognize dissociative groups that they do not wish to belong to, and therefore adopt behaviors in opposition to those of the group (Adams, 1996). In the same vein, according to Harris (1998), conformity can cause people to do things they would not normally do, (e.g., use of alcohol, drugs, smoke, have a job, have children and buy expensive items). Additionally, while pressure from peer groups is undoubtedly influential, most teens choose friends that share common views about behaviors such as drinking or drug use. Pruitt (1999) stated that "the 'good kid' who falls in with the bad crowd is the exception, not the rule."
Undergraff (2001) stated that adolescents spend more than half of their time in the company of their peers, and therefore it is not surprising that peers play an influential role in the adolescents' lives. He added that credibility, authority, power and the influence of peers are greater during adolescence stage than any other time in life. Similarly Omeogun (2002) argued that the peer group is the unit of social life during adolescence; therefore, the adolescent's personality is influenced by his/her social life and his/her group.
Experiences with peers constitute an important developmental context for adolescents (Rubin, Bukowski, & Parker, 2006). Adolescent’s experiences with peers occur on several different levels: general interactions
This chapter presents the different related literature and studies; both local and foreign, which supports the researchers on this study. It is also a review of the existing literature relevant to the topic of social conformity among adolescents. A. Related Literature (Foreign)
Adolescent’s social conformity can be described as the influence exerted by a peer group in encouraging a person to change his or her attitudes, values, or behaviors to conform to the group. A person affected by conformity may or may not want to belong to these groups. They may also recognize dissociative groups that they do not wish to belong to, and therefore adopt behaviors in opposition to those of the group (Adams, 1996). In the same vein, according to Harris (1998), conformity can cause people to do things they would not normally do, (e.g., use of alcohol, drugs, smoke, have a job, have children and buy expensive items). Additionally, while pressure from peer groups is undoubtedly influential, most teens choose friends that share common views about behaviors such as drinking or drug use. Pruitt (1999) stated that "the 'good kid' who falls in with the bad crowd is the exception, not the rule."
Undergraff (2001) stated that adolescents spend more than half of their time in the company of their peers, and therefore it is not surprising that peers play an influential role in the adolescents' lives. He added that credibility, authority, power and the influence of peers are greater during adolescence stage than any other time in life. Similarly Omeogun (2002) argued that the peer group is the unit of social life during adolescence; therefore, the adolescent's personality is influenced by his/her social life and his/her group.
Experiences with peers constitute an important developmental context for adolescents (Rubin, Bukowski, & Parker, 2006). Adolescent’s experiences with peers occur on several different levels: general interactions