When a new school year begins, students are dealing with classes, sports, and other extracurricular activities.

Most students will also face an entirely different set of challenges with peer pressure.

Parents may notice a change in how their child dresses or behaves at home. How much of this is

related to their friends' influence and how should parents address peer pressure with their children?

In this podcast, we talk with a psychologist who looks at the science behind peer pressure,

both the good and the bad.

Brett Lowerson is a professor of psychology at Florida Atlantic University, where his research focuses on how children and teens interact with their peers and parents.

Specifically, he studies how these relationships affect their social lives and academics.

Dr. Lawerson is a fellow of the American Psychological Association. Welcome.

Thanks. It's a pleasure to speak with you.

When does peer pressure typically

begin to occur in children's lives? And what impact does it have on child and adolescent development?

Before we tackle that question, I think it's important to define peer pressure. If we define

peer pressure as essentially influence, then I think we can see that peer pressure begins very early

on. But it's not often the way that parents and adults think of it. You have explicit peer

pressure and you have implicit peer pressure. So let me give you an example. I know of a young man who just started middle school and it started it with long hair.

And a couple of months into middle school, he got his hair cut very short.

This could have been because somebody made fun of his long hair. That would be the explicit form of peer pressure.

But it could also be very implicit. He could

have wanted to fit in. He could have been eager to make new friends. Other kids with short

hair, and who didn't want them to be off put by his long hair. He could have thought this

is some form of status, people with short hair,

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