Essay On Social Identity Theory

College students enrolled at Syracuse University at one point were regarded as belonging to one of the most popular party schools in the United States. At a party school, various types of drinking are often common activities for students on campus. Students may tend to feel peer pressure to drink more with their friends or social groups. According to Josephine Palmeri, an undergraduate from NYU, over 80% of college students consume a singular alcoholic drink over a two-week period. Of this 80%, half, will admit to binge drinking on occasion as well. These statistics are both remarkably higher than people of the same age who do not participate in a college campus environment. Considering the differences between each student, it is possible that there is a relationship between drinking behavior and one’s social group accompanied with their gender. The social identity theory is a potential explanation as to why college aged individuals make the decisions they do, based on their peer pressure experiences. Since peer pressure is an issue in social

Coming into college, students are forced to become more independent and make friends. They rely on their peers for support and help. Part of the developmental process in college is risk taking and engaging in these risky behaviors. The peers look at the risky behaviors as appropriate and acceptable. They never understand the negative consequences of these acts. They are just participating in these behaviors because they make it look acceptable. The social identity theory helps us understand why peers feel influenced and engage in peer pressure. Peers want to be involved in the “in-group” and not the “out-group” to be socially accepted. “Out-groups” can lack social support. Non-drinking behavior is seen to be part of the out-group and therefore peers feel they do not fit in. Peers who go into college, as non-drinkers are more likely to give into peer pressure and drink to fit