Subjective Norms Definition

Subjective Norms. According to the Theory of Reasoned Action, this is a function of an individual’s normative beliefs. These beliefs are social in nature, in that they focus on an individual’s perceived social pressures to perform the behavior (Ajzen&Fishbein, 1980). In short, subjective norm has been defined as an interface between a person’s perception of how significant others in the social environment feel about the person’s performance of the behavior including motivation to comply with these. These beliefs are affected by both the presence of significant others (mother, father, best friend, coach, and girlfriend/boyfriend) and the individual’s level of motivation to comply with or please these significant others. In general, people would

Peers represent an emotional outlet providing a means by which adolescents may express themselves in ways that may not be possible at home. Adolescents build up feelings of discomfort and a “sense of impossibility” when it comes to discussion about sex with their parents or any other adult family members. In fact, they reported more preferable in discussing the use of illicit drugs, tobacco, or alcohol discomfort than in discussing sexual matters with their parents (Stone, Ingham, & Gibbins, 2012). During the ages of 12 to 14 or also known as early adolescence, young teens are very concerned with being accepted by a peer group, when they reach the middle adolescence stage, the intensity of their involvement with peer group resides to more intimate relationships, specifically romance relationships (Buhrmester, 1990; Levitt et al., 1993; American Psychological Association, 2002). According to Engels and Bogt (2001), adolescents who are actively involved in risky or transgressed attitudes are also involved or strongly fond of being with their friends to gain more social support from them and are more socially competent in their friendships or intimate relationships. Peers may, therefore, replace parents as an important social influence. One cross cultural study has documented peers as a major source of information on sex or attributed sexual knowledge for many adolescents. In a survey study of 4,106 male and 3,978 female adolescents (ages 15 to 24) on knowledge

Young people are more likely to have sex if their best friends are older, use alcohol or drugs, or engage in other negative behavior. Similarly, they are more likely to have sex if they believe that these people have more positive attitudes toward childbearing, have permissive values about sex, or are actually having sex. If young people believe their friends support condom use or actually use condoms, chances are greater that they will use it themselves (Douglas Kirby & Gina Lepore, 2007) without enough knowledge on sexual matters and possible