Religious Studies 102 introduces students to post-biblical theology and religious practice and the contexts in which they appear. Through a consideration of representative figures and issues, students analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments and points of view. In particular, we consider how concepts of the body are incorporated in religious beliefs and practices.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Peer Pressure and the Brain
Maybe this was Augustine's problem! A new study shows that teenagers make worse decisions when they are with their friends.
I think this article is particularly interesting because it puts emphasis on anyone being able to influence another's actions. All these people had to know is that someone was watching and their behavior changed, not who it was. This is important because when dealing with children I think most parents tend to blame bad decisions on who their child was with. In reality, the child probably would have done the same thing even if they had been with someone else.
I think this article is extremely relevant to Augustine's decision to steal the pears. I believe that his friends' pressure accounted for part of his crime. In addition, "the brain system involved in reward processing is also involved in the processing of social information" (Parker-Pope). One of the things we talked about in class was Augustine's pleasure he received from wanting to steal, not just the act. So it is interesting that Parker-Pope would write that the reward process is intertwined with the processing of social information. I think that without his friends' presence, the pleasure of stealing would not have been as great.
This was a very interesting article. I would imagine similar studies have also yielded similar results. The fact that the study was done on a virtual driving game intrigued me, but it would appear as though the concept translates to real life well considering that close to half of all new drivers get in accident within the first year. This study does certainly help explain Augustine's motives. I would have to agree that the presence of his friends added to the enjoyment he found in stealing the pears.
This was a great article to read, and brought up some very interesting points. I agree with the argument Claire makes in that Augustine's pear theft was a result of being surrounded by a group of friends. Had Augustine stolen the pears on his own, without the accompaniment of his friends, I'm guessing the act of stealing would not have been as thrilling. I feel that this article could also shed light to reasons why Augustine might have had such a hard time converting. If he was surrounded by a community that was emerged in sin, then it would be only natural for him to struggle with giving up those sins as well.
This article was very interesting to me on multiple levels. This study validates the assumption that when teenagers are with a group of friends, they tend to act in a different, and oftentimes more daring, manner. This could possibly be the result of a desire for acceptance or the want to be considered "cool" by one's peers. In my experience, I have often heard people say that peer pressure does not really exist; however, this article proves otherwise. Although, in this study, teens were not directly influenced by their peers, the very idea of their presence made the participants act in a different manner than they would have if they were by themselves. I would also agree with Claire in that the findings presented in the article represent Augustine's struggle as an adolescent. In his Confessions, Augustine admits that he would not have participated in many of his wrongful acts if it weren't for the shear presence of his peers. He acknowledges the influences of peer pressure on teens such as himself and the negative ramifications of 'following the crowd.'
I think this article is particularly interesting because it puts emphasis on anyone being able to influence another's actions. All these people had to know is that someone was watching and their behavior changed, not who it was. This is important because when dealing with children I think most parents tend to blame bad decisions on who their child was with. In reality, the child probably would have done the same thing even if they had been with someone else.
ReplyDeleteI think this article is extremely relevant to Augustine's decision to steal the pears. I believe that his friends' pressure accounted for part of his crime. In addition, "the brain system involved in reward processing is also involved in the processing of social information" (Parker-Pope). One of the things we talked about in class was Augustine's pleasure he received from wanting to steal, not just the act. So it is interesting that Parker-Pope would write that the reward process is intertwined with the processing of social information. I think that without his friends' presence, the pleasure of stealing would not have been as great.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very interesting article. I would imagine similar studies have also yielded similar results. The fact that the study was done on a virtual driving game intrigued me, but it would appear as though the concept translates to real life well considering that close to half of all new drivers get in accident within the first year. This study does certainly help explain Augustine's motives. I would have to agree that the presence of his friends added to the enjoyment he found in stealing the pears.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great article to read, and brought up some very interesting points. I agree with the argument Claire makes in that Augustine's pear theft was a result of being surrounded by a group of friends. Had Augustine stolen the pears on his own, without the accompaniment of his friends, I'm guessing the act of stealing would not have been as thrilling. I feel that this article could also shed light to reasons why Augustine might have had such a hard time converting. If he was surrounded by a community that was emerged in sin, then it would be only natural for him to struggle with giving up those sins as well.
ReplyDeleteThis article was very interesting to me on multiple levels. This study validates the assumption that when teenagers are with a group of friends, they tend to act in a different, and oftentimes more daring, manner. This could possibly be the result of a desire for acceptance or the want to be considered "cool" by one's peers. In my experience, I have often heard people say that peer pressure does not really exist; however, this article proves otherwise. Although, in this study, teens were not directly influenced by their peers, the very idea of their presence made the participants act in a different manner than they would have if they were by themselves.
ReplyDeleteI would also agree with Claire in that the findings presented in the article represent Augustine's struggle as an adolescent. In his Confessions, Augustine admits that he would not have participated in many of his wrongful acts if it weren't for the shear presence of his peers. He acknowledges the influences of peer pressure on teens such as himself and the negative ramifications of 'following the crowd.'