Jon's son Matthew is 15 years old. Jon is worried because Matthew seems increasingly dependent upon the opinions of his friends, and Jon is afraid that Matthew's peers will be a bad influence on him. According to psychological research:
A) peers almost always have a bad influence on an adolescent.
B) peer relationships tend to reinforce the traits and goals that parents fostered during childhood.
C) parents should choose an adolescent's friends, because adolescents have poor judgment regarding their peers.
D) peer relationships are not as important to Matthew as is his relationship with his father.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Psychological research suggests that peer relationships tend to reinforce the traits and goals that parents fostered during childhood. While peer influence can certainly be a concern for parents, it is not true that peers almost always have a bad influence on adolescents, and it is not recommended for parents to choose their child's friends as adolescents need to develop their own social skills and abilities to make decisions regarding their peers. It is also not accurate to say that peer relationships are not important to an adolescent's development.

Jon's Son Matthew Is 15 Years Old