Research has found that smokers, especially adolecants, tend to befriend other smokers and non smokers befriend non smokers.
The Social Learning Theory states that learning happens through observation and based on this young people are most likely to imitate behaviours by those whom they have most social contact.
The Social Identity Theory - Assumes that an individual will adopt the norms within their social group which characterises the identity of the group.
There is a clear difference in research that shows age differences with pressure peaking at adolescence in order to fit in and decreasing over time but this is when they are most likely to give in.
The SLT idea is supported by adolecants seeing the bahviour as rewarding as it supposedly promoted popularity.
An issue with this sort of research is that it could be socially sensitive.
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