The Importance of Peer Relationships in Adolescent Development

Peer relationships help teens achieve two of the most critical tasks of their adolescence: gaining independence from their parents and developing their identities. As teens bond with their peers, they withdraw more from their parents’ social control over them. Also, relating with peers often involves shared challenges and tastes, both of which help teens create their identity. As a result, close peer relationships are a normal, in fact necessary, part of adolescence.

Teens are hard-wired to value social connections above all else and they often experience a sense of invisibility. During this time, the teen’s prefrontal cortex is rapidly changing, and the rational mind plays less of a role in decision making, which can often lead to impulsive or reckless behavior, especially in the presence of peers. The brain also has enhanced dopamine receptors during the adolescent years. 

That means there can be an influx of addictive behaviors, like experimenting with harmful drugs drinking an excess of alcohol, engaging in sex and other types of illegal activities—anything that provides them with that feel-good dopamine rush. 

New feelings of attraction may also start to develop during this phase as teens find their gender and sexual identities. 

Regardless, we will provide the support that they need to become the best version of themselves.