Parents Versus Peers

Abstract

Although research demonstrates that parents can protect their children from harmful media effects by engaging in parental mediation, parental influences may wane when children reach adolescence and face pressures from peers. The Sullivan-Piaget thesis suggests that peers become especially important and influential during adolescence. Surprisingly, very little mass communication research has considered the role of peers in shaping media effects on adolescents. This study took a first look at peer mediation of antisocial television and found that it occurs more frequently and is more potent than parental mediation. In addition, peer mediation promotes more positive orientations toward antisocial television, which in turn leads to greater aggression. Whereas parental mediation can inhibit negative media effects, peer mediation seems to facilitate harmful outcomes. It is suggested that future research follow up on this initial study of peer mediation so that this potentially important construct can be further developed and understood.