Social Pressure and Prosocial Behaviors Among Teenagers

This study investigates the influence of social pressure on prosocial behaviors among adolescents through a lab-in-the-field experiment. Using a controlled environment where teenagers interact with their classmates, I examine the evolution of cooperation over repeated interactions and explore its determinants. I find that girls and altruistic pupils demonstrate higher levels of cooperation. The introduction of non-monetary rewards and punishments, serving as forms of social pressure, significantly enhances cooperation among adolescents, aligning their behavior with group's cooperation. Surprisingly, the study finds that the intensity of social pressure does not directly impact cooperation, suggesting that adolescents adapt their pro-social behavior in response to social pressure awareness. This study demonstrates that peer-enforced norms sustain cooperation among adolescents, even in the absence of material incentives.