Peer - GCSE Psychology Definition

Reviewed by: Lucy Vinson

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In GCSE Psychology, a "peer" refers to someone who is of a similar age or status to you, such as your classmates or friends. Peers can influence how you think, feel, and behave, because you might share experiences, interests, and challenges with them. In psychology, understanding how peers affect you is important because they can have an impact on your social development, self-esteem, and learning. This influence is called "peer pressure," which can be positive, like encouraging you to study harder, or negative, like pushing you to do something risky.

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Lucy Vinson

Reviewer: Lucy Vinson

Expertise: Psychology Content Creator

Lucy has been a part of Save My Exams since 2024 and is responsible for all things Psychology & Social Science in her role as Subject Lead. Prior to this, Lucy taught for 5 years, including Computing (KS3), Geography (KS3 & GCSE) and Psychology A Level as a Subject Lead for 4 years. She loves teaching research methods and psychopathology. Outside of the classroom, she has provided pastoral support for hundreds of boarding students over a four year period as a boarding house tutor.

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